Digital ICs/DSP: Dual Computer Cores, Higher Speeds Invigorate DSP Chips

April 12, 2004

Enhanced versions of the Blackfin DSP offer features such as dual cores for symmetrical multiprocessing and increased operating frequencies for higher throughput. The ADSP-BF561 contains two identical 533 Blackfin DSP cores, a shared 128-kbyte level 2 cache, and many system peripheral functions. Each core includes a 32-kbyte instruction cache/SRAM and a 64-kbyte data cache/SRAM, as well as a small 4-kbyte scratchpad SRAM. Symmetric multiprocessing is possible and operation reaches 750 MHz, delivering a throughput of 1.5 GMACs per core. Speed upgrades to the ADSP-BF533 single-core DSP chip are available. This processor now operates at clock speeds of up to 750 MHz, too. The 750- and 600-MHz versions of the BF561 sell for $39.95 and $22.95 apiece, respectively, in lots of 10,000 units. In similar quantities, the 600- and 750-MHz BF533 cost $15.95 and $31.95, respectively.

Analog Devices Inc.www.analog.com/blackfin

About the Author

Dave Bursky

Technologist

Dave Bursky, the founder of New Ideas in Communications, a publication website featuring the blog column Chipnastics – the Art and Science of Chip Design. He is also president of PRN Engineering, a technical writing and market consulting company. Prior to these organizations, he spent about a dozen years as a contributing editor to Chip Design magazine. Concurrent with Chip Design, he was also the technical editorial manager at Maxim Integrated Products, and prior to Maxim, Dave spent over 35 years working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Electronics Command and an editor with Electronic Design Magazine.