Communications Platforms for Embedded Multicore Technology
Portable Design News, Monday June 16, 2008
Freescale Semiconductor has introduced a new brand of communications platforms designed to enable the next era of networking and take embedded multicore to new levels of adoption. The new QorIQ platforms are the next-generation evolution of Freescale's PowerQUICC processor line and are designed to help developers migrate to multicore with confidence.
QorIQ platforms include single, dual and many core processors – all based on Freescale's e500 Power Architecture technology. The platforms start with the P1 and P2 levels, which consist of five package-, pin- and software-compatible processors designed to ease the transition from single- to dual-core processing. The P3 and P4 platforms enable developers to move into the ‘many core' arena and address more advanced processing needs. The P5 platform is designed to deliver Freescale's highest-performing solutions well within embedded power budgets. All of the QorIQ platforms are equipped with extensive programming support to help developers get the most out of their multicore implementations.
Freescale's QorIQ platforms are unified in their use of high-performance e500 Power Architecture cores. These cores offer frequencies ranging from 400 MHz to 1.5 GHz. Products at the high end of the QorIQ portfolio also feature breakthrough embedded processing innovations that boost performance, including private backside cache per core, datapath acceleration architecture (DPAA) and CoreNet™ coherency fabric.
QorIQ platforms start at 45-nm geometries and offer a roadmap to 32-nm and beyond. Products based on QorIQ technology are designed to consume significantly less power than other embedded multicore architectures. QorIQ products offered at the 45-nm node include solutions ranging from highly integrated products at 4W to ‘many core' devices under 30W. The QorIQ P3 and P4 platforms allow system developers to strictly manage device frequency and voltage.
By consolidating on an e500 Power Architecture core-based architecture, QorIQ platforms offer customers an easy migration path to multicore processing, from single- to dual- to eight-core devices. The platforms continue to leverage the broad Power Architecture ecosystem, and Freescale has worked closely with its partners to specifically address common multicore development challenges.
In the high-level QorIQ platforms, on-chip features designed to simplify development include embedded hypervisor technology, code performance monitors, and extensive debug visibility and access. Freescale has also collaborated with virtualized software development firm Virtutech to create a hybrid simulation environment offering a controlled, deterministic and fully reversible environment for the development, debugging and benchmarking of software in embedded multicore environments.
Freescale Semiconductor, Austin, TX, (800) 521 6274, [www.freescale.com]
