T-Platforms introduces MIPS-based Tavolga Terminal computer

Users can enjoy many of the open source software packages optimized for MIPS CPUs, from productivity tools such as the LibreOffice suite or the Firefox browser to media players and popular games.

The Tavolga Terminal TB-T22BT comes equipped with a high-performance Baikal-T1 chip that integrates two MIPS P5600 CPUs clocked at 1 GHz+. The P5600 currently holds the highest CoreMark/MHz score among 32-bit CPU IP processors, making it one of the most powerful processors when it comes to performance per MHz and per watt.

Additional hardware specifications include a 21.5" IPS display with full HD resolution, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM memory, and optional storage capabilities that range from 8 to 64GB of non-volatile memory. The Tavolga Terminal PC also includes four USB 2.0 ports, one 1000 Mbps Ethernet connectors and a slot for an optional SFP module, making it suitable for hi-speed browsing and data transfers.

The Tavolga Terminal is available for order now and deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2016. T-Platforms also plans to release a more compact form factor that does not feature an integrated display.

In addition to the desktop PC illustrated above, T-Platforms also demonstrated the new SF-BT1 computer-on-module (COM) system incorporating the Baikal-T1 SoC at Mobile World Congress and Embedded World 2016 in Barcelona and Nuremberg, respectively.

This platform is aimed at hardware vendors that wish to create application-specific devices such as high-performance IoT platforms, embedded control systems, industrial automation, healthcare or networking equipment. The SF-BT1 module is based on the popular SMARC (‘Smart Mobility ARChitecture’) v1.1 specification that defines a standard for low power, high performance microcomputers.

The live demo shown by Baikal Electronics together with the prpl Foundation at Imagination Technologies’ booths in Barcelona and Nuremburg focused on demonstrating the security benefits provided by the MIPS architecture for networking equipment and IoT devices.

Taking advantage of the hardware virtualisation and secure data capabilities of the MIPS Release 5 architecture, developers were able to show an early prototype of the prplSecurity open source framework. The prplSecurity framework is a comprehensive collection of open source APIs providing hardware-level security controls such as root of trust, secure boot, secure hypervisor and secure inter-VM communications.

Using these advanced features, the prpl Foundation demonstrated three Linux-based operating systems running in parallel on the SF-BT1 modules at full performance, each in its own ultra-secure and highly protected domain.