Texas Instruments' Sitara and DSP-Inclusive Integra: ARM CPUs For The Rest Of Ya

A month-plus back, I provided a preview of ARM’s upcoming Cortex-A15 (aka ‘Eagle’) core, whose first publicly announced licensee was Texas Instruments. The ‘A’ in its marketing moniker exposes its “highly integrated application processor, primarily for mobile devices” primary focus, as a successor today’s Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 devices. And in addition to its consumer electronics concentration, I suggested that ARM aspired to find homes for it in trendsetting server designs.

Cortex-A15 isn’t expected to appear until at least 2012, however. And plenty of you are ARM-interested but have unique application needs for which a consumer electronics (or, for that matter, server) -tailored SOC won’t suffice. Enter (ironically) Texas Instruments again, with the company’s latest Sitara ARM-based embedded processors and Integra ARM-plus-DSP multi-core hybrid devices. Fundamentally, the advancements in both product family cases are fueled by a lithography shrink to 40 nm.

With the Cortex-A8 based Sitara AM3892 and AM3894, this process transition enables a clock speed boost to up-to-1.5 GHz. Normally, to accomplish such a performance feat on the Cortex-A8 requires either an architecture license from ARM that enables fundamental re-plumbing (such as the license owned by Intel-now-Marvell, Infineon-now-Intel, or Microsoft for as-yet-unknown reasons) or dynamic logic or other exotic implementation techniques (the 1 GHz speed spec on Apple’s A4 CPU was, in fact, the tipoff to me that Intrinsity might have been involved in the design). TI’s mum on whether it was a secret Intrinsity licensee or leveraged similar technology (all it will fess up to is ‘various circuit optimizations’), but the company concurs that the 40 nm turn of the lithography crank was a key factor in the 1.5 GHz accomplishment.

A higher transistor budget for a given-sized sliver of silicon also opens the door to higher levels of integration versus predecessor ICs, and TI hasn’t disappointed in this regard. Both Sitara processors contain a robust embedded peripheral suite:

  • Two-lane PCI Express Gen2
  • Two USB 2.0 ports
  • SATA 2.0 interfaces for up to two external drives
  • Two 32-bit DDR2/DDR3 external memory interfaces at up to 1.6 GHz
  • Two Gigabit Ethernet MACs
  • A HDMI transmitter, and
  • Two-channel video I/O

To the latter two bullets, both Sitara SoCs support up to two tethered displays at up to 1920×1280 pixel output resolutions. The AM3894 additionally embeds an Imagination Technologies SGX530 GPU core, running at up to 333 MHz, in order to hardware-accelerate 3D graphics. The XAM3894CYG costs $43.10 (1,000); pricing on the GPU-less AM3892 was not announced by the company.

TI’s new Integra processors further up the integration ante, embedding a TMS320C674x floating- and fixed-point DSP core, running at up to 1.5 GHz, alongside the ARM system processor core. The remainder of the peripheral mix matches that of their pin-compatible Sitara siblings; as with Sitara, Integra SoCs come in base (C6A8167, $46, 1,000) and integrated GPU-inclusive (C6A8168, $49, 1,000) flavors. A DDR2 version (TMDXEVM8168DDR2) of the evaluation module common to both Integra and Sitara is now available for $1,895. A DDR3 version with video capture capability is expected to begin shipping in Q1 2011. The free EZ SDKs, now available for download from TI’s website respectively for Integra and Sitara SoCs, include ARM and (for Integra) DSP source code along with (ditto) “hundreds of ready-to-use DSP kernels”. At the moment, the SDKs support Linux; Android and Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7 support is also planned for Q1 of next year.

Admittedly, TI’s four new processors aren’t revolutionary breakthroughs; as the company’s overview page makes clear:

  • They’re not the first Cortex-A8-based embedded processors in TI’s product line (see slower Sitara prececessors)
  • They’re not the first ARM-plus-DSP combos, either (see the OMAP-L1x ARM9-plus-DSP Integra predecessors)
  • Nor are they even the first Cortex-A8-plus-DSP products (see DaVinci alternatives)

As such, they’re perhaps more accurately categorized as somewhat predictable evolutionary ICs. Yet, speaking of evolutionary, their performance increases versus precursors will be welcomed in ever-more-code-bloated and therefore speed-demanding applications. Their tailored peripheral mixes may be a better general-embedded fit than DaVinci for non-imaging-centric systems. And the performance-plus-integration combination may not only keep TI present in evolutions of existing customers’ designs, but also with Integra, enable the company to kick out a current two-chip CPU-plus-DSP combo or few from new customers’ sockets.

company’s latest Sitara

By Anonymous December 22, 2011 - 02:34

company’s latest Sitara Zoloft dosage ARM-based embedded processors and Integra ARM-plus-DSP multi-core hybrid devices is of great use.

great to know that Texas

By Anonymous February 6, 2012 - 00:15

great to know that Texas Instruments again, with the company’s latest Sitara ARM-based embedded vistaril dosage processors and Integra ARM-plus-DSP multi-core hybrid devices.

This publish has been

By Anonymous February 10, 2012 - 00:40

This publish has been incredibly informative & useful to improve my understanding in the area of Metoclopramide Side Effects understanding & its many areas. Well, I'm so satisfied that I have discovered this publish because I have been searching for some details about it.

They’re not the first

By Anonymous February 12, 2012 - 23:12

They’re not the first Cortex-A8-based embedded halcion processors in TI’s product line (see slower Sitara prececessors)

I am happy to find this post

By Anonymous February 20, 2012 - 04:32

I am happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality citalopram hbr content and this thing I found in you post. Thanks for sharing

Valuable information I found,

By Anonymous February 22, 2012 - 05:46

Valuable information I found, the information that you provided is excellent post and a good job. It is my great pleasure to visit your Grants for Veterans website and to enjoy your excellent post.

such a system is not so cheap

By daniel888 February 28, 2012 - 05:15

such a system is not so cheap in my opinion. But it is really good! yacht charters greece

Wow, this is probably one of

By Amazing Post March 1, 2012 - 08:45

Wow, this is probably one of the coolest tutorials I’ve seen. Need to get into this ASAP!

webhost

I know what you mean. I will

By castor88 March 2, 2012 - 08:28

I know what you mean. I will use your tips for my future projects. I am sure that I will have amazing results! yacht charter

The information and the

By Anonymous March 3, 2012 - 02:37

The information and the detail were just perfect. I think that your perspective is deep, its just well thought out and really School Grants fantastic to see someone who knows how to put these thoughts down so well.

This topic has always been

By Anonymous March 7, 2012 - 02:07

This topic has always been one of my favorite subjects to read about. I have found your post to be very rousing and full of good Punta Cana All Inclusive Resortsinformation. I will check your other articles shortly.

it is a nice page and an

By carla March 7, 2012 - 10:45

it is a nice page and an interesting article. You should post more often this kind of articles. printed t shirts

A higher transistor budget

By Marc March 7, 2012 - 11:28

A higher transistor budget for a given-sized sliver of silicon also opens the door to higher levels of integration versus predecessor ICs, and TI hasn’t disappointed in this regard mallorca property

This was really an excellent

By roryjames43 March 8, 2012 - 00:15

This was really an excellent and fun post for me to study. I really do think that this was really very awesome and beneficial for me to Side Effects study. I really have experienced examining this so much
cell phone spying

This is good site to spent

By jesiccabush7 March 13, 2012 - 02:10

This is good site to spent time on .I just stumbled upon your informative blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your very well written blog posts. I will be your frequent visitor, that's for sure.
free cell phone spy

Wraysbury estate agent

By Wraysbury estate agent March 15, 2012 - 06:25

Clean website. Do you ever accept guest posts? I am maintaining a site on my latest hobby water filters and wanting to trade some content with good sites.

I think cortex a 15 is not

By john March 21, 2012 - 08:43

I think cortex a 15 is not for smartphones, except maybe the extreme hi-end. This is for hi-end tablets, mid/hi-end nettops, and entry level/business laptops. compare motor trade insurance

I cut prissy enjoyed repugn

By anikolien March 24, 2012 - 00:17

I cut prissy enjoyed repugn your accruement posts.I am impressed.I was act for determining entropy on this parceling. Saintlike airman Cut for set !!!
Background Checks

This could be interesting. We

By Rob March 24, 2012 - 04:41

This could be interesting. We have all heard that windows 8 will be designed to run both ARM and X86. small business insurance

It is a good article. You

By Zizi March 26, 2012 - 14:14

It is a good article. You should post more often this kind of posts. facebook timeline

Yes, this is true that it's

By aber March 26, 2012 - 21:15

Yes, this is true that it's person's responsibilities to understand the obligations before starting a new business.Corn Mill Equipment

Seems to be a good instrument

By Martin March 27, 2012 - 05:41

Seems to be a good instrument for my needs. I will use it. web designer

Maybe this will be a good

By Faby March 31, 2012 - 12:27

Maybe this will be a good thing for all of us. I will read more about it. It is good to chat about it.

Thank You!

By Ar Condicionado Automotivo April 5, 2012 - 23:24

Good Work ! I have found your post to be very rousing and full...thanks!
Ar Condicionado Automotivo

I know been version out few

By gjemilhe April 6, 2012 - 08:41

I know been version out few of your posts and i can verify pretty angelical hooey. I gift definitely bookmark your parcel.
birthday ecards

I think this is a very good

By resub April 7, 2012 - 04:14

I think this is a very good blog, and I am very very interested to read it. I hope you can provide other Veterans Grants information which is helpful for all. thank you..

I think this is a very good

By wandybrad April 13, 2012 - 03:07

I think this is a very good blog, and I am very very interested to read it

Resume help

This is my first opportunity

By questkii April 13, 2012 - 04:21

This is my first opportunity to visit this website. I found some interesting things and I will apply to the development of my blog. Thanks for sharing useful Buying Facebook Likes information.

Good points

By Anonymous April 16, 2012 - 07:44

You make it entertaining and you still manage to keep it smart. This is truly a great blog. Thanks for sharing.Day Spa,Spa Packages

Facebook Covers

By Facebook Covers April 17, 2012 - 05:42

We are your source for free Facebook Covers. Here you will find FB Covers or Facebook Timeline Covers. We will continue to add new fb covers on a daily basis.
Facebook Covers

I shag couldn't counseling

By gjemilhe April 18, 2012 - 02:13

I shag couldn't counseling your website before quantify that I act trounce this entertainer. there's a weenie interact to secern a amend mentation in your hatful. the lineament foregather you ambit to your visitors
rat traps

I found this is an

By John April 19, 2012 - 07:51

Cortex-A15 isn’t expected to

By Shuster April 20, 2012 - 04:53

Cortex-A15 isn’t expected to appear until at least 2012, however. And plenty of you are ARM-interested but have unique application needs for which a consumer electronics (or, for that matter, server) -tailored SOC won’t suffice. Yacht Charter Zadar

Cortex-A15 isn’t expected to

By Sicily April 20, 2012 - 08:57

Cortex-A15 isn’t expected to appear until at least 2012, however. And plenty of you are ARM-interested but have unique application needs for which a consumer electronics (or, for that matter, server) -tailored SOC won’t suffice. yachtbooker

It gives me inspiration.I

By meririchard April 26, 2012 - 07:06

It gives me inspiration.I think I will also inspired by you and think about more new ideas.
American Outfitters Kinderkleding

I really like the fresh

By crystaljules04 April 30, 2012 - 00:10

I really like the fresh perpective you did on the issue. Really was not expecting that when I started off studying. Your concepts were easy to understand that I wondered why I never looked at it before. Glad to know that there's an individual out there that definitely understands what he's discussing. Great job.
cell phone spy software

I used to be seeking this

By Anonymous123 May 2, 2012 - 23:23

I used to be seeking this kind of information for quite some times. Thank you and best wishes. Cosmetic Alliance(Botox) provide you with access to a high-quality, cost-effective service you can trust.
pellet mill low price

outsourcing Romania

By outsourcing Romania May 4, 2012 - 15:05

We have learned a great deal as we listened to the concerns and desires of our clients as they begin to learn about the marketing industry. outsourcing Romania

good

By Anonymous May 6, 2012 - 06:47

Just want to say your article is astounding. The clarity in your post is simply spectacular and i can assume you are an expert on this field. Well with your permission allow me to grab your rss feed to keep up to date with incoming post.
http://www.jordanretroshoesonline.com/
http://www.nike.com/
www.google.com

Just want to say your post is

By jasmeen May 8, 2012 - 14:24

Just want to say your post is awesome. I agree with you. This post is truly inspirational.pillow forms I like your post and all you share with us is up to date and quite informative.

I used to be seeking this

By Anonymousgfghf May 9, 2012 - 03:25

I used to be seeking this kind of information for quite some times. Thank you and best wishes. Cosmetic Alliance(Botox) provide you with access to a high-quality, cost-effective service you can trust.
best pellet conditioning tools

You must be aware that you

By Anonymous May 9, 2012 - 05:45

You must be aware that you really have an awesome site. Does exactly what it sets out to do. Stimulating me to read much more of your special education teacher post. Hope to see a lot more excellent posts from you shortly.

I really admire your efforts

By Anonymous May 12, 2012 - 02:33

I really admire your efforts and It's full of information. Thanks for the how to become a special education teacher information. . I have found much informative, what I was exactly searching for.

Service Proz, a leading

By naqash899 May 14, 2012 - 01:34

Service Proz, a leading provider of cloud-based, on-demand, service management solution for home service businesses in USA. It is an end-to-end workforce management and service management solution providing broad functionality that makes the daily operation of home service businesses more efficient and cost effective.
Scheduling and Dispatching

Flower

By Norman May 15, 2012 - 03:54

The post is very nicely written and it contains many useful facts. I am happy to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and implement. Thanks for sharing with us, Keep it up.. !
best florist new york

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy.