In April Intrinsity announced general sampling of the 1.5 and 2 GHz versions of its FastMIPS and FastMATH processors. Both processors are based on the MIPS32 architecture; the FastMATH processor adds a matrix math engine to the baseline architecture.
The combination of high clock speed and matrix-processing capabilities give the Intrinsity FastMATH processor impressive signal-processing speed on algorithms with ample opportunity for parallel processing. On BDTI’s Complex Block FIR Filter benchmark, for example, the 2 GHz FastMATH processor is roughly five times faster than fastest mainstream DSP available today, Texas Instruments’ 720 MHz ’C64xx. However, the FastMATH processor is less speedy on algorithms with few opportunities for parallel processing. In fact, the 2 GHz FastMATH processor is slower than the 720 MHz ’C64xx on two of the BDTI Benchmarks™ .
In terms of overall signal processing speed, the FastMATH processor is the fastest processor ever benchmarked by BDTI. The FastMATH processor has a BDTIsimMark2000™ score of 11960, which is about two times higher than the 720 MHz ’C64xx BDTImark2000™ score of 6480. (Information on these scores is available at http://www.BDTI.com/Services/Benchmarks/DKB.)
Intrinsity is offering this high speed at reasonable prices. The 1.5 GHz FastMATH processor is priced at $199 in 10,000-unit quantities—the same price as the significantly slower 720 MHz ’C6414. At a price of $349 in 10,000-unit quantities, the 2 GHz FastMATH processor is less cost-effective, but it offers about the same speed per dollar as the 720 MHz ’C6414. However, slower versions of the ’C64xx are far more cost-effective than the FastMATH processor.
The FastMATH processor is less competitive in terms of energy efficiency. BDTI does not have sufficient data for a thorough energy-efficiency analysis yet. However, Intrinsity’s preliminary data suggests the 2 GHz FastMATH processor energy efficiency is five times worse than that of the 720 MHz ’C64xx. To make its technology more appealing for power-sensitive applications, Intrinsity announced it would begin sampling the more-efficient FastMATH-LP processor in the fourth quarter of this year. The FastMATH-LP processor is projected to be about 20% more energy-efficient that the currently available part.
Intrinsity’s processors use novel dynamic logic techniques to achieve their high speeds. Intrinsity is a young, small company, so it is impressive that it has been able to deliver these technologies on schedule and at reasonable prices. If Intrinsity can continue to deliver on its promises, it will greatly strengthen its position against its larger, well-established competitors.
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