Broadcom reveals CPU development

Linley Gwennap, Linley Group
EETimes (11/23/2010 1:03 PM EST)

In an exclusive article in Microprocessor Report this week, Broadcom revealed that it has developed a new MIPS-compatible CPU, the BRCM 5000, for its broadband SoCs. This CPU, also known by its code-name Zephyr, is the latest in a series that the company has developed over the past decade under an architecture license from MIPS.

According to Dan Marotta, executive VP and general manager of Broadcom's Broadband Communication Group, these CPUs have been a secret weapon for the company. "Our small but powerful CPU cores enhance the capabilities of our industry-leading digital-home solutions," Marotta said. "As a result, Broadcom processors enable a better consumer experience than products based on commodity off-the-shelf cores." Products using these Broadcom-designed CPUs generate more than $2 billion per year in sales.

The BRCM 5000 is a superscalar CPU that can execute two threads at once. The design is now entering production in 40nm G technology at a clock speed of 1.3GHz. With a rating of 3,000 Dhrystone MIPS, the CPU provides plenty of performance for high-end set-top boxes (STB), digital TVs (DTV), DOCSIS 3 cable modems, and other demanding consumer applications. It appears in products such as the BCM7420.

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