CPUs Target Low-Power, High-Performance Apps

Oct. 29, 2001
Targeted at next-generation information appliances and other applications, National Semiconductor's GX2 family of highly integrated processors builds on x86 software compatibility and features included in the company's first-generation Geode family....

Targeted at next-generation information appliances and other applications, National Semiconductor's GX2 family of highly integrated processors builds on x86 software compatibility and features included in the company's first-generation Geode family. The GX2-LP suits low-power applications, and the GX2-XP fits high-performance desktop or line-powered systems.

The GX2's enhanced x86-compatible 0.15-µm CPU core boasts an improved integer and floating-point unit as well as 16-kbyte data and instruction caches. It delivers 2.5 times the throughput of the GX1 and consumes 50% less power.

Besides large on-chip caches, the GX2 CPU features the 3D Now and enhanced MMX instruction extensions. For high-speed I/O data transfers, a GeodeLink interface and control arbiter was added to the chip. The arbiter enables dynamic allocation of memory bandwidth, with on-the-fly prioritization. That, coupled with out-of-order data streams and peer-to-peer communications, permits direct communication between on-chip modules and a 6-Gbyte/s data bandwidth.

Also included is a high-performance graphics processor, a display controller, and a video processor. The GX2-XP version can drive either a CRT or a TFT flat-panel monitor, while the lower-power LP version will only support TFT panels. The graphics controller handles resolutions up to 1600 by 1200 pixels with a color depth of 16 bits per pixel, or 1280 by 1024 pixels with a 24-bit color depth.

Aggressive power management helps keep active chip power between 1 and 2 W, depending on clock speed, which could range from 200 to 400 MHz. At those speeds, the CPU delivers a throughput of 150 to 300 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS. The processor also packs a 66-MHz 32-bit PCI interface.

In 100,000-unit lots, a two-chip set (the GX2 processor and the CS5535 peripheral support chip) sells for $45.

National Semiconductor, 2900 Semiconductor Dr., Santa Clara, CA 95052-8090; (408) 721-5000; www.national.com.

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.

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