Category: Embedded System
Processor intellectual property licensor ARMHoldingsplc has successfully developed a dual-core Cortex-A9 processor design (referred to as Osprey) two implementations.
Cortex-A9 processor is compatible with other Cortex family processors and the popular ARM MPCore technology, it can very well continue to use the rich ecosystems, including the operating system real-time operating system (OSRTOS), middleware and applications, including, so reduce the cost of using the new processor. By using the improved architecture of the first micro-key system, Cortex-A9 processor provides a highly scalable solution for high power and efficiency. Dynamic length, eight superscalar, multi-event pipeline and inferred Shuffle (Speculative out-of-order execution ), it is at a frequency exceeding 1GHz device, execute up to four instructions in each cycle, while reducing the cost of the current mainstream eight processors and increase efficiency.
Osprey before changing its manufacturing processes at least Intel Atom will be a strong competitor. It uses the form of hard macros, designed to use Taiwan TSMC (TSMC) of 40G40nm manufacturing process technology.
Osprey hard macro are optimized for power and performance, and for optimizing the performance of ARM processors enables high-performance applications full access to the competition area.
"Osprey goal in addition to performance or performance." Vice President Processor Division, Marketing, ARM EricSchorn said, "We are expanding into new markets, such as the Internet (netbook), smart this (smartbook), mobile internet device (MID), TV entertainment and consumer electronics devices and enterprise networking equipment (such as printers). "
Osprey is itself a dual-core processor, but no one can stop permission from the party placing multiple cores on a die, Schorn said. Although ARM is still waiting for TSMC to produce a complete test of the chip, which will be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, but the two aforementioned designs ready for licensing its IP can be shipped in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Speed-optimized implementation for enterprise servers, network devices, printers, and other even more than the required clock frequencies up to 2GHz of peak application performance. This kernel occupies 6.7 mm2 of silicon area, at a clock frequency of 2GHz 10000DMIPS may provide computing power, power consumption is about 1.9 watts.
For power optimized implementation for mobile computing devices, intelligent computer and other consumer electronic devices required to 800MHZ above 1GHz clock frequency. It occupies an area of 4.9 mm2 of the die, at 800MHz clock frequency may be provided 4000DMIPS computing power, power consumption of 0.5 watts. Both implementations will use TSMC 40G process, and to support low-leakage process GL option.
Above design comprises a fixed cache size is 32kB capacity of 32kB data and instructions, in addition to a secondary cache controller that supports secondary cache space and 8MB of 128kB.
Schorn claimed equivalence by comparing the size of the Intel Corporation Osprey using technology similar between 4045nm Atom processor manufactured 13-14. The Osprey also adopted ARM Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium of Coremark benchmark.
RM reports, the performance of these two implementations are more than the work of AtomN270 at 1.6GHz. This can be done in the 800MHz clock frequency for the realization of power optimization, and speed-optimized version While working at 2GHz, but the performance exceeded 2.5 times.
NeonSIMD FPU engine and the dual core design of each core comprising a support and multimedia image processing. "In fact, the network does not deal with Neon or floating point unit's strengths, but when you use the hard macro you have to make some tough choices, but it has a silicon-proven and realized the advantages." Schorn representation.
ARM introduce such a hard macro has been for some time, the earliest dating back ARM922 and ARM926. "ARM926 having a configurable cache and increasingly used foundry business. Foundries low-power, high-performance and more versatile process nodes themselves, thus increase the number of targets." Schorn, he said "but just as we now see, the node changes to reduce and shorten the life of the hard macro target number is increasing again. we want a project can achieve multiple licenses."
Cortex-A9 of the earliest adopters, ARM's semiconductor partners have used this process to achieve a low-power processor cores, Schorn said. "Many partners use low-power process, so we are not prepared to repeat our partners have done work with low-power wireless communication is very relevant. This high-performance core open up River Drive, efficacy of up to Atom 4 to 5 times. "Schorn, FIG.
Osprey hard macro does not contain graphics processor, but it is interesting to be included with the test chip. "MALI-400 integrates a multimedia processor and MALI-VE video engine on the dual Osprey test chip." Schorn disclosed.
Similarly, the kernel does not include Osprey Fast14 Intrinsity's technology, but this technique is used to Samsung clock frequency to achieve the above 1GHz Cortex-A8 processor. "Intrinsity's Fast14 this fantastic technology has been applied to the Cortex-A8, but did not use the Osprey achieve, but certainly not abandoned the future of."
Osprey does include clock gating techniques and other low-power design low-power ARM processor used in the design. If there is no instruction pipeline, the main processing unit does not consume power. Design also uses a leakage power at six separate power island to manage performance is not required. The entire line can be turned off, while the SRAM data remains unchanged, in order to achieve the possible immediate loading. Buffer detecting unit and a secondary cache controller unit can also be independently controlled.
Schorn concludes: ".. This is a far cry from past work has been through the complementary strengths of partners can further extend the application range of the ARM architecture."
About ARM company
ARM (ADVANCED RISC Machines) is the microprocessor industry, a well-known company, designed a large number of high-performance, low-cost, low power consumption RISC processors, related technologies and software. Technology with high performance, low cost and power consumption characteristics of the province. Applicable to various fields, such as embedded control, consumer educational multimedia, DSP and mobile applications.
ARM is Apple, Acorn, VLSI, TECHNOLOGY companies such as joint ventures. ARM has licensed its technology to many of the world famous semiconductor, software and OEM vendors, each vendor to get an ARM company (6) is a unique ARM-related technologies and services. With this partnership, ARM RISC soon become the global standard in many of the founders. Currently, a total of 30 semiconductor companies with hardware ARM signed a technology licensing agreement, including Intel, IBM, LG Semiconductor, NEC, SONY, Philips and National Semiconductor big company. As a partner of software systems, include Microsoft, Sun and MRI and a series of well-known companies.