Processor Selection for SoC

>moogyd wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I am looking at selecting a processor for our SoC platform. Currently
>> we use an embedded 8051 core (small, low power, low performance,
>> cheap).
>> 
>> For our next project, we need more performance, and we are also trying
>> to create a platform suitable for all future projects.
>> 
>> The CPU must be available as RTL (VHDL or Verilog) source.
>> 
>> Obviously, there are lots of options
>> - Faster 8051
>> - 16-bit ?
>> - 32-bit RISC (ARM Cortext M0, ARC 6XXX, OpenRISC)
>> 
>> There are also lots of issues to consider
>> - Power uW/MHz
>> - Area
>> - Performance
>> - Cost/Licensing
>> - Support and tools
>> -
>> Can anyone point to any data (comparisons) that would be useful in
>> making a decision.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Steven
>> 
>> 
>> 
>
>Hi Steven,
>
>I work for ARM so my choice is certainly bias towards ARM cores.
>But the following information might be useful for you.
>
>Faster 8051
>8051 IP cores are cheap, but as you can see the performance is limiting.
>The fastest 8051 IP claimed their Dhrystone DMIPS is 0.1/MHz (but many 
>others are much slower).  But you need to be careful as this often 
>require special compiler support or C libraries that make use of the 
>extra features. If using standard 8051 instruction set and features you 
>would get a lower performance.
>
>Due to the lower performance you might end up clocking the core faster 
>and hence getting higher power consumption.  And in highend 8051 cores, 
>the register banks are implemented as D-flip-flop rather than SRAM (32 
>8-bit registers, to allows single cycle execution of instructions). As a 
>result the gate count of the high-end 8051 can be quite large.
>
>
>
>16-bit
>There are not too many commerical 16-bit processors. Most of them are 
>proprietary architecture and therefor the choice of compiler tools are 
>limited.  The performance is several times better than 8051 but mostly 
>still less than half of ARM processors.  Most of the 16-bit processors 
>has a Dhrystone DMIPS from 0.3/MHz to 0.5/MHz.
>
>The biggest problem you will find with 16-bit core is the 64kbyte memory 
>limitation.  Some 16-bit architectures has workaround for this by allow 
>paging or segmentation of memory map but it will reduce the efficiency. 
>  If your application requires more than 64kbytes or will expand in the 
>future, switching to ARM would be a better choice.
>
>
>ARM Cortex-M0
>High performance at small size : Dhrystone DMIPS 0.9/MHz. Smaller than 
>most 16-bit cores and very good code density (smaller code size than 
>16-bit cores and 8-bit cores).
>http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2009/06/10/46252/cortex-m0-used-in-low-power-touch-controller.htm
>
>
>There are large number of choices for C compilers and debug tools, and 
>certainly future proof  (e.g. tools, memory expansion). The processor 
>comes with debug features and an integration kit is included to help
design.
>
>More details of Cortex-M0 can be found here:
>http://www.arm.com/products/CPUs/ARM-Cortex-M0.html
>http://www.arm.com/miscPDFs/24481.pdf
>http://www.techonline.com/learning/webinar/215801022
>
>If you want more technical details feel free to contact us directly or 
>let me know.  You can try out Cortex-M0 using our Microcontroller
>Prototyping System (MPS) without any NDA (details on 
>http://www.keil.com/mps/)
>
>regards,
>Joseph
>

And don't count the ARC 600 family out as well.

- Higher performance than an an MO at the same same size (1.2 DMIPS/MHz)
- as low as 12,800 gates
- very low power - 0.0012 mW/Mhz on TSMC 90G
- Robust and mature tools support including an overlay manager to take
advantage of limited local memory
- Code density on par with an 8051 due to it's 16/32 bit ISA

Drop me a line if you'd like more information.

Andy

	   
					
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