ARM today announced the availability of an expanded
lineup of ARM Processor Optimization Pack (POP)
solutions for TSMC 40nm and 28nm process technologies
targeting a range of ARM Cortex processors.
At least nine new POP configurations targeting
Cortex-A5, Cortex-A7, Cortex-A9 and Cortex-A15 processor
cores will be released. POPs enable ARM partners to
quickly close timing of single-, dual- and quad-core
implementations across a broad envelope of power,
performance and area optimization points.
At the 28nm HPM (high performance for mobile) and 28nm
HP (high performance) process variants, ARM is launching
new POPs for the Cortex-A9 core as well as the first
POPs for ARM's newest Cortex-A7 and Cortex-A15
processors. Since the Cortex-A7 and Cortex-A15 cores are used in tandem as ARM's big.LITTLE processing solution,
the addition of POPs for both cores assures a complete
solution for big.LITTLE implementations. ARM's licensee
for the Cortex-A15 POP for TSMC 28nm HPM is progressing
toward the tape out of its first chip in the coming
months.
At TSMC 40nm LP (low power), ARM?s existing POP offering
for the Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A9 processors is being
augmented with the new Cortex-A7 POP. In addition,
working in concert with TSMC, ARM will offer new POP
variants supporting the latest options for TSMC 40nm LP,
so those process options can take full advantage of the
POP implementation benefits. ARM?s POPs for TSMC 40nm LP
for Cortex-A5 (1.0 GHz) and Cortex-A9 (1.4 GHz) are
shipping in production chips by ARM partners in such
applications as smart-TV, set-top box, mobile computing
and smart phones.
A Processor Optimization Pack solution is composed of
three elements necessary to achieve an optimized ARM
core implementation. First, it contains ARM Artisan
Physical IP logic libraries and memory instances that
are specifically tuned for a given ARM core and process
technology. This Physical IP is developed through a
tightly coupled collaboration with ARM processor
engineers in an iterative process to identify the
optimal results. Second, it includes a comprehensive
benchmarking report to document the exact conditions and
results ARM achieved for the core implementation.
Finally, it includes a POP Implementation Guide that
details the methodology used to achieve the result.