1.5 GHz Tri-Core SoC Processor Enables 3D Video in Smartphones, Tablets

By Ashok Bindra, TMCnet Contributor

Integrated silicon solutions provider Marvell (News - Alert) has developed a low-power, heterogeneous, multi-core applications processor, the ARMADA 628, the world’s first 1.5 GHz tri-core application process incorporating a full system-on-a-chip design with three high-performance ARM (News - Alert)-compliant, CPU cores, according to Marvell.

“Marvell has once again set the benchmark for the rest of the industry with the world’s first 1.5 GHz tri-core processor, delivering dual stream 1080p 3D video and 3D graphics performance with quad-unified shaders for 200 million triangles per second delivered on ultra-low-power, long battery life smartphones and tablets,” said Weili Dai, Marvell co-founder and vice president, in a press statement. “This is important because today’s consumers expect robust enterprise and consumer applications delivered to the palm of their hands. This is an example of Marvell’s unique ability to take a diverse cutting edge technology portfolio and integrate into differentiated solutions to give our customers game-changing advantage.”

According to Marvell, the new ARMADA 628 tri-core processor incorporates a number of advanced processing and power management features. In short, it integrates two high performance symmetric multiprocessing cores and a third core optimized for ultra low-power. The third core runs at 624 MHz to support routine user tasks and acts as a system management processor to monitor and dynamically scale power and performance.

 “Marvell’s groundbreaking tri-core architecture is a unique solution to a long-time problem -- how to achieve PC-class performance without breaking the limited power budget of smartphones, tablets and other mobile consumer devices,” said Linley Gwennap, principal analyst of the Linkley Group. “With Marvell’s ARMADA 628, consumers can anticipate better visual, dynamic experiences on an array of new mobile devices.”

In real-world terms, said Marvell, ARMADA 628 enables more than 10 hours of full 1080p HD video or 140 hours of music on a single charge while still providing 3 GHz of raw computational horsepower.

In addition to the tri-core CPU, there are six additional processing engines to support 3D graphics, 1080p video encode/decode, ultra high fidelity audio, advanced cryptography, and digital photo data processing – for a total of nine dedicated core functions. Plus, it is also designed to be the first mobile CPU to provide high-speed USB 3.0 connectivity, which offers 10x faster performance than USB 2.0. 

The ARMADA is based on a Marvell-designed ARM v7 MP compatible CPU cores. It supports LP-DDR2 or DDR3 memory up to 533 MHz, a highly flexible display controller capable of driving four simultaneous displays at up t o 2K x 2K resolution, and a highly robust security subsystem that includes a secure execution processor. An integrated 3D engine renders 200 million triangles per second for an immersive game play experience and a multi-format video engine supports dual stream 1080p video for a true 3D visual experience. In addition, the ARMADA 628 supports DirectX, Open GL ES 2.0, and Open VG 1.1. It can handle RIM OS, Android (News - Alert), Linux, Windows Mobile, and full Adobe Flash, said Marvell.

Implemented in 55 nm process, ARMADA 628 comes in a flip-chip BGA package and is currently sampling to key customers. Production details were unavailable.

(source: http://it.tmcnet.com/topics/it/articles/104081-15-ghz-tri-core-soc-processor-enables-3d.htm)