Jan R wrote:
> Good day,
> 
> I was hoping to tap into some expert opinions. We are currently
> deciding on a Host CPU to use as base for a whole range of products. We
> narrowed it down to two possible candidates:
> 
> 	FreeScale MPC83xx
> 	AMCC 440EP | x

The project that I am working on uses the Freescale 8347, and
I've never used the other part, so I can't really do a
comparison per se.


>  - Linux software support and tools

There is a configuration in the Linux 2.6.17.1 kernel for the
"Freescale MPC834x SYS" board. It didn't take us long to adapt
that code for our board.

>  - Weird little hardware quirks

Read the errata sheet! But most of the uglies have been worked
out since the rev. 1.0 silicon. Unfortunately, we've got 1.0
on our prototypes. The biggest issue is with the reset circuitry,
but there are others. The only show-stopper that we have is with
the USB ULPI issues, but thats supposedly fixed in all future
revs.

>  - Performance issues

None that we've identified.

>  - General support and scale of use in the field

Can't speak for the field yet, but Freescale's first level
tech support sucks. Its an all-to-simple web based application
that doesn't preserve text formatting and really makes
communication difficult (yes I've complained). Why not
use good-ole e-mail folks? Jeesh. However, once you get
in touch with a real FAE, things improve.


-- 
Michael N. Moran           (h) 770 516 7918
5009 Old Field Ct.         (c) 678 521 5460
Kennesaw, GA, USA 30144    http://mnmoran.org

"So often times it happens, that we live our lives in chains
  and we never even know we have the key."
The Eagles, "Already Gone"

The Beatles were wrong: 1 & 1 & 1 is 1

Good day,

I was hoping to tap into some expert opinions. We are currently
deciding on a Host CPU to use as base for a whole range of products. We
narrowed it down to two possible candidates:

	FreeScale MPC83xx
	AMCC 440EP | x

Both offer similar features and cost. What I would like to know is if
there are any issues with any of the above. Things like:

 - Linux software support and tools
 - Weird little hardware quirks
 - Performance issues
 - General support and scale of use in the field


All those undocumented little features you run into when you start
using a new device in anger.

Any feedback or opinions would be much appreciated!

 Regards

 Jan Reyneke