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IBM, LSI unveil 45 nm embedded processor
By siliconindia
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Wednesday, 16 September 2009, 19:33 IST
Bangalore: IBM has joined hands with LSI Corporation, a provider of silicon, systems and software technologies to launch a 45 nm (nanometer) embedded processor. LSI has collaborated with IBM on the development of the processor core, called the PowerPC 476FP. Based on IBM's 45 nm, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology, the processor extends the scalability of IBM's Power Architecture.
LSI itself intends to use the PowerPC 476FP core in its next-generation multi-core platform architecture for networking applications, reports EE Times. The PowerPC 476FP operates at speeds in excess of 1.6 GHz, delivering over two times the performance of IBM's most advanced embedded core currently available. The processor dissipates 1.6 watts of power and the 476FP includes an architectural extension of IBM's CoreConnect local bus technology (PLB6), supporting coherency for multiple processors.
LSI has designed a configurable level 2 (L2) memory cache that is integrated to the processor. There are three configurations of the L2 (256K, 512K and 1M) to allow customer optimization in a given application. The elements present in the 476FP will allow designers to develop entire families of products, scaling the number of processor cores from one to 16 on the bus. The bus fabric on the PLB6 is capable of supporting up to eight coherent elements. The PowerPC 476FP hardcore is expected to be available to support designs starting in October 2009, with production starting in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2010. A synthesizable version is also expected in Q4 2010.
