Analog Devices DRAMatically Improves TigerSHARC

Analog Devices DRAMatically Improves TigerSHARC

Analog Devices announced three new TigerSHARC family members, the TS201, TS202, and TS203, at last month’s Embedded Processor Forum. These new parts represent a major upgrade to the TigerSHARC family in terms of speed, memory capacity, and cost effectiveness.

The new TS20x family members operate at up to 600 MHz—twice the clock rate of the older TS101. This doubling in clock speed closes the performance gap between TigerSHARC and one of its key competitors, Texas Instruments’ ’C64xx. BDTI is currently evaluating the TS20x using its BDTI Benchmarks™. Preliminary results suggest that in terms of overall 16-bit signal-processing speed, a 600 MHz TS20x is about as fast as a 720 MHz ’C64xx.

If the TS20x is playing catch-up in the speed contest, it has taken a clear lead in terms of memory capacity. The TS20x includes up to 3 Mbytes of on-chip memory. In comparison, both TI’s ’C64xx and Intrinsity’s FastMATH processors offer just over 1 Mbyte of on-chip memory. Competing PC CPUs lag even farther behind: both Motorola’s MPC74xx and Intel’s P4 top out at roughly half a Mbyte of on-chip memory.

The TS20x is also far more cost-effective than the TS101. For example, a 300 MHz TS101 with 768 Kbytes of on-chip memory costs $199. In contrast, a 500 MHz TS202 with 1.5 Mbytes of on-chip memory costs $149. Thanks to its lower prices and larger memories, TigerSHARC is now more competitive with other DSPs. For example, it is roughly aligned with the ’C64xx in terms of speed per dollar and memory per dollar.

ADI says it was able to lower prices even as it increased memory capacity by switching on-chip memory from SRAM to embedded DRAM (eDRAM). According to ADI, a TS20x with 3 Mbytes of eDRAM occupies about the same die area as a TS101 with 768 Kbytes of SRAM. ADI says the switch to eDRAM has other benefits as well, such as reduced power consumption. Although the TS20x is not the first embedded processor to use eDRAM—see the November 2002 edition of the DSP Insider for other examples—it is the first mainstream DSP to use this memory technology.

The TS201, TS202, and TS203 are sampling now at 500 MHz. The TS201 is also sampling at 600 MHz. Volume production of the TS20x is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2004. Pricing for the TS20x ranges from $35 for a 500 MHz TS203 with 512 Kbytes of eDRAM to $299 for a 600 MHz TS201 with 3 Mbytes of eDRAM. (All prices quoted in this article are for 10,000-unit orders.)