Tensilica Introduces Third Generation ConnX 545CK 8-MAC VLIW DSP Core

Updated ConnX 545CK Features 20% Faster Speed, 30% Lower Power and 10% Smaller Size

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - April 22, 2010 -Tensilica, Inc. today introduced its third generation ConnX 545CK 8-MAC (multiply-accumulate) VLIW (very long instruction word) DSP (digital signal processor) core for system-on-chip (SOC) designs. Improvements in this third generation dataplane processor (DPU) core deliver up to 20 percent faster clock speed, 11 percent smaller die and up to 30 percent lower power consumption.

The ConnX 545CK is ideal for SOC dataplane signal processing because it allows system control and high-speed signal processing throughput in a single core with a single compiler and single instruction stream. It combines a base CPU controller with a DSP that can sustain eight simultaneous MAC operations on independent data pairs per cycle, utilizing the 160-bit vector registers.

"The seamless blending of traditional CPU and traditional DSP characteristics makes all of Tensilica's ConnX brand DPUs uniquely well suited to a variety of wired and wireless communications applications," stated Steve Roddy, Tensilica's vice president of marketing and business development. "The ConnX 545CK is a ready-to-use, off-the-shelf octal- MAC solution. And for designers seeking to tailor a DSP further, the ConnX 545CK can be  augmented to perfectly suit a particular target application by utilizing the unique customization capabilities of Tensilica's Xtensa LX3 processor."

The ConnX 545CK features a 3-issue VLIW architecture with eight 16-bit multipliers that operate in SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) mode. The core can sustain eight parallel multiply-accumulate operations per cycle. The compiler automatically vectorizes code to take maximum advantage of the architecture. It also has two 128-bit load/store units and a built-in Viterbi convolutional coder accelerator.

One of the unique features of the ConnX 545CK is the 32-bit input/output Queue interfaces that function like FIFOs (first in, first out), to bypass the system bus and communicate directly to streaming data interfaces. This allows much faster data throughput than traditional DSPs, which require memory-based load and store operations on each data element.

Availability

The ConnX 545CK Revision C is available now. In 65GP optimized for high speed, the ConnX 545CK delivers over 600 MHz operation.

About Tensilica

Tensilica, Inc. is the leader in customizable dataplane processors IP cores. Dataplane Processor Units (DPUs) combine the best capabilities of CPUs and DSPs while delivering 10-to-100-times the performance because they can be customized using Tensilica's automated design tools to meet specific signal processing performance targets. Tensilica's DPUs  power SOC designs at system OEMs and six out of the top 10 semiconductor companies for products including mobile phones, consumer electronics devices (including digital TV, Blu-ray Disc players, broadband set top boxes, digital still cameras and portable media players), computers, and storage, networking and communications equipment. For more information on Tensilica's patented, benchmark-proven DPUs visit www.tensilica.com.