Freescale Introduces Industry's Highest-Performance Fully Programmable Digital Signal Processor; New Quad-Core MSC8144 Based on
May 16 2006 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) has introduced its
third-generation multicore DSP based on next-generation SC3400
StarCore(TM) technology. The new MSC8144 DSP is engineered to
deliver leading-edge performance, reduce system costs and
significantly increase channel densities for next-generation
wireline and wireless infrastructure applications providing voice,
video and data services. The MSC8144 provides an optimal DSP
solution for wireline infrastructure applications, such as
carrier-class trunking, enterprise VoIP media gateways and video
conferencing servers. Wireless applications served by the MSC8144
include wireless voice transcoding and IP multimedia subsystem
(IMS) gateways, video multi-point conferencing units, baseband
cards for 3G, Super 3G and WiMax basestations, and Layer 2
processing in radio network controllers (RNCs). "A prime example of
network convergence is 'access anywhere' communications, enabled by
IMS gateways," said Lynelle McKay, vice president and general
manager of Freescale's Digital Systems Division. "The ability to
adapt media sessions as users change locations and even devices
while maintaining exceptional QoS for triple-play services is
invaluable. The MSC8144 multicore DSP provides the processing
performance and flexibility needed to deliver these converged
network capabilities within a low power envelope." Industry's
Highest Performance Programmable DSP The new MSC8144 takes
single-chip DSP integration to a new level of sophistication.
Combining four StarCore DSP cores at up to 1GHz each, the MSC8144
delivers the industry's highest Gigahertz performance, equivalent
to a 4GHz single-core DSP. It integrates the industry's largest
embedded memory at 10.5Mbytes in a single package, virtually
eliminating the need to attach external memories while maintaining
a highly competitive cost and power per channel. "Freescale's
MSC8144 aims at reaching optimal programmable DSP performance
density with attention to low power per channel and low cost per
channel," said Max Baron, Senior Editor & Principal Analyst,
In-Stat. "These factors are becoming part of the silicon selection
process for many large OEM's in these markets." Advanced SC3400
Architecture Based on StarCore Technology The enhanced, deeper
pipeline SC3400 DSP core on which the MSC8144 DSP is based enables
higher clock rates and adds new Single Instruction Multiple Data
(SIMD) instructions, precise exception and branch prediction. The
SC3400 core also supports improved specialized instructions for
Viterbi and video algorithms that virtually double the performance
of previous-generation StarCore DSPs. Each core is surrounded by a
highly efficient 16Kbyte instruction cache, 32Kbyte data cache and
an MMU (memory management unit) for memory and task protection,
enabling development of highly robust software. "We are very
pleased that Freescale has selected the StarCore SC3400
architecture as the architecture of choice for their
next-generation video and digital communications platforms," said
Craig Trautman, sr. director of Sales and Marketing, StarCore LLC.
"Freescale's multicore SC3400 implementation with the MSC8144 will
pave the way for more effective multimedia and modem processing in
next-generation systems." Since the advanced SC3400 instructions
are a superset of the current SC140 instructions, MSC8144 software
is fully binary and assembly-code compatible with Freescale's
existing portfolio of multi- and single-core DSPs based on StarCore
technology. This compatibility enables customers to leverage their
software investment. High Data Bandwidth Architecture The MSC8144
DSP's rich set of peripherals supports a very high I/O bandwidth,
which is important to meeting current and future customer needs: --
Dual Gigabit Ethernet interfaces support SGMII and RGMII, and a
16-bit UTOPIA interface provides ATM support -- A dual-RISC core
implementation of QUICC Engine(TM) technology enhances overall
system performance by offloading performance-consuming
communication tasks from the DSP cores -- A 4X/1X Serial RapidIO
interface delivers high throughput and robust packet transfer --
2048 TDM DS-0 channels handle connectivity to the PSTN networks --
10.5Mbytes internal memory offers the industry's largest embedded
memory -- An advanced DDR-I/II controller provides an interface to
high-speed, industry-standard memories -- A 66MHz, 32-bit PCI bus
interface provides additional high-speed connectivity "Freescale's
integration of Serial RapidIO technology on the MSC8144 further
validates the need for open, high-speed interfaces for the high
level of connectivity needed in next-generation communications
equipment," said Tom Cox, executive director of the RapidIO Trade
Association. "The introduction of the MSC8144 exemplifies how
Freescale continues to proliferate RapidIO technology throughout
its processor portfolios." Versatility, Consolidation and Reuse The
highly optimized, yet fully programmable architecture of the
MSC8144 DSP provides unmatched densities for voice and video
transcoding/transrating and data applications integrated in a full
framework. Meeting the industry need for consolidation and reuse,
the MSC8144's versatility is underscored by its programmability,
scalability and abundance of networking interfaces. This
versatility allows OEMs to adapt to changing standards while using
the same device, hardware platform and tools for multiple
applications. The MSC8144 also enables OEMs to implement different
software loads, resulting in significant savings on development and
design of future-proof products. Accelerated Time-to-Market
Freescale offers a full set of development tools and enablement
software for the MSC8144 platform solution. The CodeWarrior(TM)
integrated development environment (IDE) from Freescale is a highly
comprehensive, widely used IDE that includes advanced optimizing
C/C++ compilers, profiling tools, cycle and instruction accurate
simulators, device drivers and operating systems. The tool set
comes with a fully equipped hardware development platform and
reference board design. The OSEck(R) RTOS from Enea also supports
the MSC8144, providing a fully pre-emptive, full-featured, compact
real-time kernel optimized to provide the high performance and
small memory footprint tuned to meet the specific requirements of
DSP systems. Because the MSC8144 DSP core is code-compatible with
previous generations of Freescale's DSPs based on StarCore
technology, existing customers can start development immediately.
To help simplify development and speed time-to-market, OEMs can
license optimized multimedia codecs and software frameworks from
Freescale and from Freescale's third-party ecosystem partners.
Technology, Packaging and Availability Based on Freescale's
advanced 90nm silicon-on-insulator technology, the MSC8144 DSP is
planned to be available in 1GHz and 800MHz versions in a 783 pin,
29 x 29 mm FC-PBGA (flip-chip plastic ball grid array) package.
General sampling is planned for the third quarter of 2006.
Suggested resale pricing in 10,000-unit quantities starts at $180
(USD). About Freescale Semiconductor Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
(NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) is a global leader in the design and
manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive,
consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. Freescale
became a publicly traded company in July 2004 after more than 50
years as part of Motorola, Inc. The company is based in Austin,
Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or
sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, a member of
the S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest semiconductor
companies with 2005 sales of $5.8 billion (USD). www.freescale.com
-0- *T Reader Inquiry Response: Freescale Semiconductor P.O. Box
17927 Denver, CO 80217 USA *T Freescale(TM) and the Freescale logo
are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. All other product
or service names are the property of their respective owners. (C)
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. 2006.
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