Digital ICs/DSP: System Controller/CPU Combo Simplifies System Designs

March 15, 2004

The PM8172 system controller serves as a companion chip to the RM5231A, RM7035C, and RM7935 64-bit MIPS-based CPUs for advanced consumer applications like thin-client networking PCs, advanced digital cable/satellite set-top boxes, personal video recorders, digital video recorders, HDTVs, and many other systems. Available in speeds from 250 to 900 MHz, the RM5231A, RM7035C, and RM7935 processors are general-purpose 64-bit MIPS-based CPUs with a 32-bit system address/data interface that connects to the controller chip. The PM8172 includes controllers for SDRAM, flash, and ROM. It also boasts a peripheral bus, a PCI bus interface, an ATA 33 integrated-development-environment interface, DMA channels, timers, a smart-card interface, a consumer IR port, a 16C550 UART, an audio digital controller, an IEEE 1284 parallel port, and general-purpose I/O pins. The controller will be sold only in conjunction with CPUs, so prices for the CPU/controller combo range from $15 to $60/set (depending on the CPU selected) in 10,000-unit lots.

PMC-Sierra Inc.www.pmc-sierra.com/products/details/pm8172

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.