AMD Plans 64-bit ARM for Communications in 2014
9/10/2013 07:55 AM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO — Advanced Micro Devices sketched out its 2014 road map for embedded processors, the first to include an ARM-based SoC.
AMD’s Hierofalcon will pack four to eight 64-bit ARM Cortex A57 CPU cores along with 10GBase-KR Ethernet and PCI Express Gen 3 links, targeting communications and storage systems.
The 28nm device will go up against Intel’s 22nm Rangeley, an Atom-based SoC already shipping and likely to be upgraded by the time the AMD part is ready.
Hierofalcon will come in versions spanning 15 to 30W and support ARM’s Trust Zone security implemented on a Cortex A5.
AMD would not say whether it will implement the Freedom Fabric acquired with startup SeaMicro that will be used in "Seattle," AMD’s ARM-based server SoC shipping next year.
AMD also announced two x86-based embedded processors and its next-generation graphics core all coming in 2014 and made in a 28nm process.
The graphics core, called Adelaar, will embedded 2 Gbytes of GDDR5 memory, have 76 Gbyte/s memory throughput and ship early next year.
A G-series embedded part called Steppe Eagle will use two to four enhanced Jaguar x86 cores and a Radeon 8000 GPU, and come in versions dissipating as little as 5W.
A high-end R-series part called Bald Eagle will be AMD’s first embedded part using the GPU/CPU coherent memory approach defined by the Heterogeneous Systems Architecture Foundation.
It will use two to four enhanced Steamroller x86 cores and a Radeon 9000 GPU.
The Steppe Eagle part will fit into sockets of existing G-Series chips launched in April,
offering better performance per watt,
making it "easier for customers to absorb," said Nathan Brookwood,
principal of Insight64 of Saratoga, Calif.
"64-bit ARM in embedded is a big deal, but I am disappointed they are not providing details on the Freedom Fabric," he said.
ARM debuts an AMD embedded road map in 2014 with Hierofalcon.
Click here to enlarge.
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- DESIGN West: AMD launches SoC embedded attack
- AMD claims progress on turnaround
- AMD to ship ARM-based server SoCs in 2014
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