Multicore processing receives an eight-core dose

The signature member of Freescale's new QorIQ product line, the P4080 multicore processor is based on 45nm process technology. It integrates enhanced Power Architecture cores, a tri-level cache hierarchy, innovative CoreNet on-chip fabric and data-path acceleration.

"Our new QorIQ P4080 processor addresses the need to dramatically scale performance without introducing complexity for developers," said Lynelle McKay, senior VP and general manager for Freescale's networking and multimedia group. "We've thought through the issues of first-generation multicore devices and the P4080 is our conclusion. By offering breakthrough technology and engaging deeply with our partners, we're ensuring that our customers have what they need to take full advantage of all that our architecture has to offer."

The QorIQ P4080 provides concurrent handling of control-plane, data-plane and application layer processing tasks. It is ideal for applications such as switches, enterprise and service provider routers, access and media gateways, base station controllers, radio network controllers (RNCs), and general-purpose embedded computing systems in the networking, telecom, industrial, military and aerospace markets.

Overall performance is enhanced via a Datapath Acceleration Architecture that simultaneously provides high networking performance and reduces software complexity. The acceleration architecture works in concert with the cores to manage packet routing, security, quality-of-service and deep packet inspection—freeing the cores to focus on value-added services and application processing. The CoreNet fabric also boosts performance by eliminating bus contention, bottlenecks and latency issues associated with shared bus/shared memory architectures that are common in other multicore approaches.

The QorIQ P4080 features an impressive array of high-speed I/O technologies including dual 10Gbit/s Ethernet (XAUI) controllers, eight 1Gbit/s Ethernet (SGMII) controllers, three PCI Express v2.0 controllers/ports running at up to 5GHz and two serial RapidIO 1.2 controllers/ports running at up to 3.125GHz.

The QorIQ P4080 processor is scheduled to begin sampling in mid-2009.