Reason #3 to Customize a Processor Core - It's Yours and Only Yours

Written by Paula Jones March 29, 2010 Hits: 313 Favorites

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By using a unique processor configuration, you make it much harder for competitors to copy your ideas. You get higher performance, lower processor operating power, and you'll have a version of a microprocessor that no one else can buy. In addition, no one else can get the automatically-generated matching software tool chain unless you provide it to them so no one can program the processors in your ASIC unless you allow it.

So even if someone else gets your configured processor, they can't take advantage of the task-specific ISA optimizations you've made unless you provide them with the tools to do so. Plus your optimized processor will get better performance, operate at lower required clock rates, and consume less energy than the industry-standard, fixed-ISA microprocessor cores.

Worried that others won't know how to program it? You'd be amazed how often customizable processors are in the data plane - handling functions that are never touched by the main operating system once the firmware is installed. You program the video firmware once and then it just works. Same for audio and communications. There are tremendous opportunities for unique optimized processors doing those tasks that no one else will need to program once you've optimized your firmware.

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Written by :

Paula Jones