ARM And Intrinsity Boost Performance Of CORTEX-R4 Processor

Story by Farid - Monday 23rd July 2007, 04:04:00 PM

Cortex-R4X processor implementations to double maximum operating frequency for storage, printer and networking applications

CAMBRIDGE, UK AND AUSTIN, TEXAS – 23 JULY, 2007 – ARM [(LSE: ARM); (NASDAQ: ARMHY)] and Intrinsity, Inc., today announced their agreement to produce high-performance implementations of the ARM® Cortex™ family of processors. The first of these will be implementations of the Cortex-R4 processor operating at around twice the frequency achievable using standard synthesis techniques on the same silicon process. The Cortex-R4X processor implementations are available for licensing from ARM immediately.

The processor implementations incorporate Intrinsity’s Fast14® 1-of-N Domino Logic (NDL) technology, which enables faster circuit speeds while minimizing power consumption and area. With its ultra-fast processing speeds, the ARM Cortex-R4X processor implementations enable higher capacity and data rates without increasing unit costs for very high-volume, deeply embedded applications such as hard disk drives, printers and networking equipment.

“Mass storage, printing and networking applications need ever increasing levels of performance to handle higher data rates, more media services and new functionality such as encryption,” said Graham Budd, executive vice president and general manager, Processor Division, ARM. “Through this relationship we can extend the performance range of the Cortex-R4 processor to meet these requirements and those of new market domains.”

The Cortex-R4X processor implementations incorporate all of the advanced features of the popular Cortex-R4 processor. These enable the execution of complex control algorithms and real-time workloads in next-generation embedded systems, while maximizing power efficiency. The extremely flexible local memory architecture enables the tightly coupled memory (TCM) to be unified into a single logical address space while providing the same performance as cache memory.

Straightforward direct memory access (DMA) support for the TCM extends the use of this memory for shared buffers and streaming data. In addition, all versions of the Cortex-R4 processor offer embedded Error Correcting Code (ECC) technology which monitors memory accesses to detect and correct errors, providing very high reliability and availability. The advanced AMBA® 3 AXI compliant bus interfaces allow high performance memory backplanes to be implemented using the ARM PrimeCell® portfolio.

Various configurations of the Cortex-R4 processor will be available as Cortex-R4X implementations, on a range of silicon processes. The first implementation will operate at 600MHz under worst-case operating conditions on the TSMC 65LP process. As a cycle-accurate implementation of the Cortex-R4 processor it executes all the same software binaries, and is fully supported by the RealView® Development Suite. Standard Cortex-R4 processor models can be used for cycle accurate modelling of the Cortex-R4X processor implementation with RealView SoC Designer, offering rapid prototyping and architectural exploration.

“Intrinsity FastCores incorporate Fast14 technology, and we use this to enable breakthrough embedded processor performance with very low power consumption,” said Bob Russo, CEO, Intrinsity. “By working closely with ARM on the development of the Cortex-R4X processor implementations, together we will be able to reach a much broader base of designers who are looking for ways to achieve higher performance without sacrificing power efficiency and bring new SoCs to market quickly.”

Availability
The Cortex-R4X processor implementation is available for licensing from ARM immediately, with delivery expected in Q1 2008. ARM Partners will be able to choose among a range of off-the-shelf fixed configurations, with the option to order custom configurations as needed. Further information is available at www.arm.com.

About Intrinsity
Intrinsity, Inc. is a design technology company which develops high-performance embedded IP core implementations, called FastCores, using its proprietary Fast14 design technology. Intrinsity provides the designs, tools, technologies, and expertise so that customers can efficiently and predictably deliver high performance, low-power and cost-effective products. Intrinsity’s FastCore and Fast14 technologies yield not only dramatic performance increases over the performance of cores built using ordinary synthesized static technologies, but also the means to trade-off speed, power and area to achieve the optimal solution to customer design targets. Intrinsity’s corporate headquarters are located in Austin, Texas. For further information regarding Intrinsity, please visit our web site at http://www.intrinsity.com.

About ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from mobile, home and enterprise solutions to embedded and emerging applications. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, graphics processors, digital libraries, embedded memories, peripherals, software and development tools, as well as analog functions and high-speed connectivity products. Combined with the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.

ENDS
ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. Cortex is a trademark of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. “ARM” is used to represent ARM Holdings plc; its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Belgium N.V.; AXYS Design Automation Inc.; AXYS GmbH; ARM Embedded Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; and ARM Physical IP, Inc.; and ARM Norway AS.
Fast14 is a registered trademark of Intrinsity, Inc. FastCore is a trademark of Intrinsity, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders.