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Freescale unveils 64-bit QorIQ platform and extends high performance product portfolio for multicore processors

22nd June 2010

Freescale Semiconductor

ES Admin

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Projections that global Internet traffic will grow fourfold over the next five years will require network equipment to manage significantly more connections and subscribers, even as the diversity of network traffic expands dramatically. Meanwhile, service providers are looking to network equipment manufacturers to deliver communications gear that generates far more bandwidth capacity, while simultaneously lowering capital and operating expenditures.

To help OEMs and service providers address these challenges, Freescale Semiconductor introduced a new QorIQ 64-bit platform based on Power Architecture® technology featuring the e5500 core, engineered for next-generation, high-end control and data plane applications in networking, enterprise storage, security appliance, data center and aerospace/defense markets. The initial products to incorporate e5500 technology are the single-core 64-bit P5010 and dual-core 64-bit P5020 processors.

Delivering twice the performance of Freescale’s e500 core, the e5500 architecture is designed to reach frequencies up to 2.5 GHz. It is based on e500 core technology and can run either in 64-bit or 32-bit mode, thus allowing legacy software support while providing an easy transition to 64-bit processing.

In addition to powering P5 level products, 64-bit e5500 cores will be incorporated into future generations of QorIQ architectures. The new core includes enhancements to support many-core SoC implementations, as well as heterogeneous multicore processors which integrate StarCore and Power Architecture technologies in the same device.

“The advances we have achieved with our e5500 64-bit core define the benchmark for embedded power efficiency by providing a unique combination of integration and performance within extremely aggressive power envelopes,” said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Networking and Multimedia Group. “Freescale’s new e5500 platform opens up a new level of performance for multicore solutions that will power next-generation networks.”

Based on the Power Architecture Instruction Set (ISA) v2.06 and designed for compatibility with future generations of QorIQ products, e5500 technology features:

1. A 7-stage pipeline with out-of-order execution
2. Increased flat addressable memory space up to 64GB
3. High performance classic Floating Point Unit (FPU) supporting IEEE 754 Floating Point Operations
4. Hybrid 32-bit mode to support legacy software and transition to 64-bit architecture
5. L1 cache, backside L2 cache plus shared L3 cache

The new 64-bit e5500 platform underscores Freescale’s commitment to higher performance within a tight 30W power envelope for control plane applications,” said Linley Gwennap, principal analyst of The Linley Group. “With its 64-bit P5 products and the new P3 level 32-bit quad-core offerings, Freescale is delivering on its QorIQ roadmap and setting the stage for future generations of embedded multicore processors.”