32-bit Multiprocessor with Level-2 Cache-Coherence

Overview

AndesCore™ A25MP 32-bit multicore CPU IP is based on AndeStar™ V5 architecture. It supports RISC-V standard ‘IMAC-FD’ extensions, Andes contributed DSP/SIMD 'P' extension (draft), user-level interrupt 'N' extension, and Andes performance/functionality enhancements such as instructions for faster memory accesses, faster branch handling, and Andes Custom Extension™ (ACE) to add user defined instructions. It features MMU for Linux based applications, branch prediction for efficient branch execution, level-1 instruction/data caches and local memories for low-latency accesses.

The A25MP symmetric multiprocessor supports up to 4 cores and a level-2 cache controller with instruction and data prefetch. Andes Coherence Unit (ACU) manages level-1 cache coherence including I/O coherence for cacheless bus masters, and duplicated L1 tag to screen allocated lines for snoop queries. Other A25MP features include ECC for level-1/2 memory soft error protection, Platform-Level Interrupt Controller (PLIC) with enhancements for vectored dispatch and priority-based preemption, CoDense™, StackSafe™ for software quality improvement, and QuickNap™, PowerBrake, and WFI for power management.

Key Features

  • Symmetric multiprocessing up to 4 cores
  • Level-2 cache and cache coherence support
  • AndeStar™ V5 Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). Compliant to RISC-V ISA IMACFDN, with Andes performance/functionality extensions
  • Floating point extensions
  • DSP/SIMD ISA to boost the performance of voice, audio, image and signal processing
  • Separately licensable Andes Custom Extension™ (ACE) for customized acceleration
  • 32-bit, 5-stage pipeline CPU architecture
  • 16/32-bit mixable instruction format for compacting code density
  • Branch predication to speed up control code
  • Return Address Stack (RAS) to speed up procedure returns
  • Memory Management Unit (MMU) and Physical Memory Protection (PMP)
  • Flexibly configurable Platform-Level Interrupt Controller (PLIC) for supporting wide range of system event scenarios
  • Enhancement of vectored interrupt handling for real-time performance
  • Advanced CoDense™ technology to reduce program code size

Benefits

  • Performance
    • Symmetric multiprocessing up to 4 cores
    • Level-2 cache and cache coherence support
    • AndeStar™ V5 Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). Compliant to RISC-V ISA IMACFDN, with Andes performance/functionality extensions
    • Floating point extensions
    • DSP/SIMD ISA to boost the performance of voice, audio, image and signal processing
    • Separately licensable Andes Custom Extension™ (ACE) for customized acceleration
    • 32-bit, 5-stage pipeline CPU architecture
    • 16/32-bit mixable instruction format for compacting code density
    • Branch predication to speed up control code
    • Return Address Stack (RAS) to speed up procedure returns
    • Memory Management Unit (MMU) and Physical Memory Protection (PMP)
    • Flexibly configurable Platform-Level Interrupt Controller (PLIC) for supporting wide range of system event scenarios
    • Enhancement of vectored interrupt handling for real-time performance
    • Advanced CoDense™ technology to reduce program code size
  • Flexibility
    • Multiprocessing up to 4 CPU cores with hardware managed memory coherence including non-cache bus master
    • Easy arrangement of preemptive interrupts
    • StackSafe™ hardware to help measuring stack size, and detecting runtime overflow/underflow
    • Versatile configurations to tradeoff between core size and performance requirements
  • Power Management
    • PowerBrake, QuickNap™ and WFI (Wait For Interrupt) for different power saving occasions

Block Diagram

32-bit Multiprocessor with Level-2 Cache-Coherence Block Diagram

Applications

  • High performance solid state drives
  • Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems
  • Network communications

Deliverables

  • A25MP with 1, 2 or 4 Processor(s) and AE350 Platform
    • Pre-integrated A25MP CPU subsystem, PLIC, Debug Module, and AXI Platform

Technical Specifications

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Semiconductor IP