Embedded Processor Watch

Senior Editor: Tom Halfhill
Contributor to this issue: Peter N. Glaskowsky, Senior Analyst

In This Issue:

• EEMBC Releases First Benchmarks
• Philips Spins Off TriMedia Group
• Motorola Ships 56311 DSP
• National's GX1 Lowers Power
• IDT Refocuses on Networking
• Embedded Processor Forum June 12-16
• Microprocessor Forum Call for Proposals
• Cahners MicroDesign Resources Seeks New Analysts

EEMBC Releases First Benchmarks

By Tom R. Halfhill

Until now, there were no objective, independently verified data for comparing the performance of embedded processors on real-world tasks. That changed when the EDN Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium (EEMBC, pronounced "embassy") recently released its long-awaited first benchmark results.

MIPS-compatible processors dominated this round of benchmarking, with three MIPS licensees (IDT, NEC, and Toshiba) bravely subjecting five different chips to EEMBC's rigorous tests. The x86 architecture is represented by two processors -- AMD's K6-2 and National Semiconductor's Geode GX1. Other early birds are Infineon (TriCore TC10GP), Mitsubishi (M16C/62A), and STMicroelectronics (ST20C2). NEC also benchmarked its V832 (a 32-bit CPU based on a proprietary architecture), and Toshiba tested its TMP95FY64F (a proprietary 16-bit microcontroller). NEC and ST were the only vendors to test their chips with all five of EEMBC's application suites: automotive/industrial, consumer, networking, office automation, and telecommunications.

As expected, the EEMBC results are an avalanche of raw data. For each test in each suite, EEMBC reports the number of times per second each processor executed the algorithm, as well as the size of the compiled code and the sample data. All together, EEMBC has released data for more than 270 tests on 12 different chips.

Unlike the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC), which mainly benchmarks desktop/server processors, EEMBC doesn't attempt to distill the raw data into an easy-to-digest composite score. There are some good reasons for this, but a composite score has some value if it uncovers relationships between processors that are difficult to detect in the raw numbers. We performed such an exercise with EEMBC's version 0.9 benchmark results in a previous article (see Embedded Processor Watch #53, http://www.MDRonline.com/epw/issues/epw_53.html), and we repeated that process with the first official results just reported.

To derive our unofficial "EEMBCmarks," we computed normalized geometric means from the raw data. Then we created 11 bar charts and scatter-plot graphs to compare the processors in all five benchmark suites. This revealed some fascinating relationships among the benchmark scores, the chips' clock frequencies, performance trendlines, and linear clock-speed/performance scales.

Our conclusion: EEMBC's benchmarks are useful and solid. Those not happy with the way we've cooked the numbers are free to try their own hand. The raw data is available on EEMBC's Web site (http://www.eembc.org/) and will be useful for engineers who need algorithm-specific information about a processor. (The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.MDRonline.com/mpr/h/2000/0501/141802.html).

Philips Spins Off TriMedia Group

By Peter N. Glaskowsky

Philips has spun off its TriMedia architecture group to create a new company, TriMedia Technologies. The new company will be set up as an intellectual-property vendor much like ARM or MIPS; it will design cores and software, but it will not sell chips. Philips will retain its TriMedia product-development group, which produced the TM-1300 and is currently working on the CPU64-based TM-1400.

Both Philips and Sony have made investments in TriMedia Technologies. Sony has not said if it will design or manufacture its own TriMedia processors, however. Philips and Sony have not disclosed details of their investments in TriMedia Technologies or of their respective shares in the new company, though Philips acknowledges its stake is more than 50%. Philips says it hopes to attract additional investors in the new company, eventually diminishing Philips's ownership in TriMedia Technologies to a minority share. (The full version of this article is available online to Microprocessor Report subscribers at http://www.MDRonline.com/mpr/h/2000/0417/141603.html).

Motorola Ships 56311 DSP

Motorola is now shipping production volumes of its new 56311, a 24-bit DSP focused on communications applications. The 150MHz chip has 384K of on-chip SRAM (organized as 128K of 24-bit words) and an enhanced filter coprocessor (EFCOP) that can perform echo cancellation in parallel with other tasks executed by the DSP core. Motorola says the EFCOP potentially adds 120 mips of performance to the core's 150 native mips. The 56311 costs $36 in 50,000-unit volumes and is compatible with Motorola's existing 56300-based DSPs. For more information: http://www.motorola.com/semiconductors. --T.R.H.

National's GX1 Lowers Power

National Semiconductor has introduced a lower-power version of the Geode GX1 built in a 0.18-micron IC process. It typically consumes only 800mW at 1.6V and 200MHz, or 1.2W at 2V and 300MHz, according to National. The GX1 is an x86-compatible Pentium-class processor with an integrated PCI controller, memory controller, and 2D graphics accelerator. A companion chip, the Geode CS5530, provides additional functions. These chips are slightly enhanced versions of Cyrix's former MediaGX chip set. Prices range from $47.20 for 200MHz to $69 for 300MHz. For more information: http://www.national.com/pf/GX/GX1.html. --T.R.H.

IDT Refocuses on Networking

IDT has reorganized and formed a new Internetworking Products Division that will focus on designing integrated network processors instead of general-purpose CPUs. Although IDT will support its current products, the company says it will stop developing new CPUs and will no longer pursue such markets as set-top boxes and information appliances. Instead, IDT's new division will target communications applications, such as routers, switches, wireless base stations, voice-over-IP gateways, home networking, and ADSL network-interface cards. Those markets already account for 70% of IDT's revenues. IDT will continue using MIPS cores for its new products. For more information: http://www.idt.com. --T.R.H.

Embedded Processor Forum: June 12-16

Registration is now open for the Embedded Processor Forum, which will be held June 12-16 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. Vendors will introduce more than 20 new embedded processors, and analysts will present six full-day technical seminars. Embedded Processor Forum will give you the in-depth technical information you need to make winning embedded-design decisions. Due to high demand, registration is filling up quickly. Detailed information about the presentations at the forum is now available on the Cahners MicroDesign Resources web site at http://www.MDRonline.com/EPF. You can also call 800.527.0288 or 408.328.3900 for more information or to receive a brochure.

Microprocessor Forum Call for Proposals

Cahners MicroDesign Resources is accepting presentation proposals for its thirteenth annual Microprocessor Forum, October 9-13, 2000, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California.

We will consider proposals from companies making announcements of new high-performance microprocessor technology. Presentations must include significant technical detail and include new information not previously disclosed. Microprocessors disclosed in detail for the first time will be given preference. Areas of interest include processors for PCs, processors for workstations and servers, embedded processors, DSPs, and programmable multimedia processors.

Your abstract must be submitted electronically to: mailto:mpfprogram@mdronline.com

Deadline for proposals is June 1, 2000.

All presentation proposals will be kept confidential. Proposals may be preceded or accompanied by appropriate non-disclosure agreements. For more information, go to http://www.mdronline.com/mpf/call.html.

Cahners MicroDesign Resources Seeks New Analysts

Cahners MicroDesign Resources, the publisher of this newsletter as well as Microprocessor Watch and Microprocessor Report, and the organizer of Microprocessor Forum and Embedded Processor Forum, is seeking new analysts to join its team. Positions focused on either embedded processors or PC processors are available. Our analysts are highly visible thought leaders in the microprocessor industry and frequently meet with top architects and executives. Candidates must have at least five years of relevant design, marketing, or analysis experience as well as excellent communication skills. For more information, contact Keith Diefendorff (mailto:kdiefendorff@mdr.cahners.com).