TI's TMS320C6474 provides greater performance density and savings on cost, power and board space while offering an easy migration path for designers of high performance systems HOUSTON, Oct. 14
HOUSTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Designers today that must integrate
multiple digital signal processors (DSPs) on a board in order to handle
performance-hungry tasks, such as simultaneously processing on multiple
channels or executing multiple software applications concurrently, can now
realize significant cost, power and board space savings with a new high
performance multicore DSP from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI)
(NYSE: TXN). The TMS320C6474 integrates three of TI's industry-leading
TMS320C64x+(TM) cores running at 1 GHz each on a single die, delivering 3 GHz
of raw DSP performance that consumes 1/3 less power at 2/3 less DSP cost over
discrete processing solutions. The C6474 provides significant system
integration for customers currently utilizing DSP farms for communications
infrastructure, medical imaging, military communications and industrial vision
inspection end equipments and markets. For more information, please see
http://www.ti.com/c6474pr.
The C6474 integrates three C64x+(TM) cores running at 1 GHz each on a
single die to deliver 3 GHz of raw DSP performance, or 24,000 MMACS (16-bit)
or 48,000 MMACS (8-bit) of measured performance. In addition to the very high
performance offered by the device, design teams with existing multi-chip
system solutions can immediately reap the cost, power and space benefits of
the C6474 because it is 100 percent code compatible with TI's single core DSPs
based on the C64x+ core (e.g. TMS320C6452, TMS320C6455), as well as those
based on the predecessor TMS320C64x(TM) core, such as TMS320C641x devices.
The C6474 achieves this system integration due in part to a process shrink
to 65 nm feature size, which means the C6474 can be packaged in a 23 mm x
23 mm ball grid array (BGA) and is comparable in size to TI's existing single
core DSP solutions fabricated in 90 nm technology.
C6474 delivers performance and power consumption advantages
The advantages of C6474-based solutions are particularly evident for
design teams struggling with stringent power budgets. To meet a 25 watt (W)
budget, for example, designers would be limited to eight 1 GHz TMS320C6455
single core DSPs, each consuming around 3W. Total raw performance for this
system would be 8 GHz. On the other hand, a C6474-based system would be
comprised of only four chips, each consuming around 6W, but delivering a total
12 GHz of raw power because each processor includes three 1 GHz cores. The
result is a 50 percent gain in raw performance per watt. Customers can also
reap a considerable cost savings with solutions utilizing the C6474 because it
is comparably priced to the C6455, but it delivers three times the raw DSP
processing performance.
In addition, the C6474 includes TI's SmartReflex(TM) technologies, which
leverage TI's deep sub-micron process geometries to significantly reduce
chip-level current leakage. The technologies incorporate a broad range of
intelligent and adaptive hardware and software features that dynamically
control voltage, frequency and power based on device activity, modes of
operation, and process and temperature variation. For more information,
please see http://www.ti.com/smartreflex.
High performance processors require high performance peripherals so the
C6474 integrates both Viterbi and Turbo accelerators to maximize processing
efficiency of these frequently used algorithms. Additionally, the processor
includes several serializer/deserializer (SERDES) interfaces, such as an SGMII
Ethernet MAC (EMAC), an Antenna Interface (AIF) and Serial RapidIO (SRIO).
The peripherals and processor cores are complemented by 32 kB of both L1
program and L1 data memory per core, 3 MB of total L2 memory available in two
configurations (a 1 MB/core or a 1.5 MB / 1 MB / 0.5 MB configuration), as
well as TI's fastest DDR2 memory interface running at 667 MHz.
Complete signal chain offering for power management
Simplifying design and speeding time-to-market, TI offers a complete
signal chain solution, including power management, data converters,
amplifiers, clocks and RF solutions. TI's PTH08T240F non-isolated DC/DC power
module meets the C6474 core voltage tolerance requirements, while
significantly reducing the amount of external output capacitance to only 3,000
uF and is compatible with TI's SmartReflex technologies. This allows C6474
designers to simplify their power system designs and achieve optimal power
performance and efficiency. For more information, please see
http://www.ti.com/pth08t240f-pr.
Software and tools simplify development
A software debug platform is also available to assist customers developing
on the C6474. The C6474 evaluation module (EVM) includes two C6474
processors, a high-speed DSP interconnect enabled by EMAC, AIF and SRIO SERDES
interfaces, and design files such as Orcad and Gerber. The C6474 EVM also
comes with an onboard JTAG header with a XDS560 emulator, as well as a board
specific Code Composer Studio(TM) (CCStudio) Integrated Development
Environment (IDE). The TMDXEVM6474 is available for US $1995. For production
CCStudio licenses, developers can take advantage of the discounted sale price
of $995 through the end of the year, which can be used to develop any
OMAP(TM), TMS320C6000(TM), TMS320C5000(TM), TMS320C2000(TM) or DaVinci(TM)
technology based design. For more information, please see
http://www.ti.com/ccstudio.
Additionally, VirtualLogix(TM) is offering VLX(TM) for the C6474. VLX
Real-Time Virtualization(TM) software allows TI's DSP-based platforms to
simultaneously run TI's DSP/BIOS(TM) kernel for the execution of traditional
DSP tasks, side by side with VirtualLogix Linux(TM), allowing the quick
adoption and integration of general purpose, advanced networking or control
functionality without the need to add a dedicated processor.
"TI's C6474 ecosystem represents a major milestone for developers of
DSP-based products," said Dave Beal, Director, Product Management,
VirtualLogix. "With VLX, a single DSP efficiently supports a variety of tasks
that formerly would have required both dedicated DSPs and a general purpose
processor, allowing product differentiation to be built through the DSP/BIOS
kernel and Linux software, rather than dedicated hardware components. This
approach results in cost, power and space savings combined with an unmatched
ability for a single DSP-based platform to meet the needs of many different
product lines."
Pricing and availability
The TMX320C6474 will be available from TI and TI authorized distributors
in the fourth quarter of 2008 for USD $261 in 100u. The device is packaged in
a 23 x 23 mm, 561 BGA package. A future C647x high performance multicore
processor will include six cores and will be announced in first quarter 2009.
For more information, please see http://www.ti.com/c6474pr.
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop
new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and
more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through
manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 25 countries. For
more information, go to http://www.ti.com
Trademarks
TMS320C64x, TMS320C64x+, C64x+, TMS320C2000, TMS320C5000, TMS320C6000,
DaVinci, OMAP, SmartReflex, Code Composer Studio and DSP/BIOS are trademarks
of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated
