MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor for Mobile Multimedia, Graphics and Audio Applications - Freescale

Freescale introduced the MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor targeted for high-performance applications requiring multimedia, complex graphics and real-time audio processing. The MPC5121e Multi-Core Processor SoC is based on Power Architecture technology, and it is the latest addition of Freescale's mobileGT processor family.

Freescale MPC5121e Multi-Core Processor Chip

The MPC5121e Multi-Core Processor combines the e300 core (Power Architecture technology) with an integrated programmable 32-bit RISC-based multimedia acceleration core and 2D/3D graphics core.

Mike McCourt, Freescale's Microcontroller Division, said:

The MPC5121e is Freescale's most powerful, feature-rich processor for telematics applications…

The device’s multi-core architecture unites a Power Architecture core with a dedicated 2D/3D graphics core and a powerful co-processor enhanced for real-time audio and multimedia. The combined horsepower of these cores makes this processor ideal for next-generation applications that require sophisticated displays, graphics/multimedia acceleration, network connectivity and mass storage…

Target Applications of MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor includes:

• Telematics
• Industrial automation and control
• Rear-seat entertainment systems
• Gaming and pachinko machines
• Set-top boxes
• Back-up camera implementations
• Surveillance and security systems

In telematics applications, the MPC5121e Multi-Core Processor device can be used in a broad range of applications, such as networked patient monitoring systems, networked industrial control and security/surveillance systems, digital home applications and gaming.

Efficient multi-core processor
The MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor contains the PowerVR MBX Lite 2D/3D graphics core, supporting 3D texturing and shading and includes the VGP Lite (PowerVR Vertex Geometry processor) for vector processing. The MPC5121e's multimedia acceleration core is designed to enhance the performance of popular compressed audio formats, such as WMA, MP3, AAC, and Ogg Vorbis. This acceleration core also supports sample rate conversion, acoustic echo cancellation and  noise reduction.

The multi-core architecture enables fast system throughput without driving clock rates and power consumption to excessive levels. Low standby power consumption also makes the device suitable for automotive system designs and mobile applications. The processor architecture balances high performance with low operating power consumption, resulting in lower system cost and high reliability.

Freescale MPC5121e Multi-Core Processor Diagram Block

Rich on-chip peripherals
The MPC5121e's on-chip peripherals helps reduce component costs, while providing a flexible processing platform for a variety of embedded applications. The MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor offers integrated peripherals includes:

• 10/100 Ethernet
• SATA, PATA
• PCI
• four CAN modules
• two USB 2.0 On-The-Go (OTG) with an integrated high speed PHY
• 12 programmable serial controllers

The integrated display controller provides cost-effective support for liquid crystal display/thin film transistor (LCD/TFT) displays.

The 128KB of SRAM and memory buffers help ensure balanced system performance and system bus throughput while reducing latency demands. Processing performance is enhanced by well balanced system resources for the e300 core, graphics core and multimedia acceleration core, as well as the DDR-I/DDR-II/mobileDDR memory controller with integrated 64-channel DMA support.

Freescale ecosystem and mobileGT Alliance support
The mobileGT Alliance includes world-class tool suppliers, such as Wind River, QNX and Green Hills Software. It also includes a growing list of software and hardware companies to provide support for the mobileGT processor family. RTOS, software drivers, middleware and application solutions from mobileGT alliance members are planned to be available when the MPC5121e device begins sampling.

Freescale plans to offer a broad range of support for the MPC5121e device, including the CodeWarrior Development Studio mobileGT processor edition and a Linux(R) Board Support Package (BSP) optimized for the mobileGT architecture and the MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor development platform.

The MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor is designed for application code compatibility with existing solutions based on the MPC5200 architecture. This compatibility provides easy scalability across product solutions to help bring new end products with the latest features to market quickly and at a lower cost.

Key features of Freescale MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor:

• e300 core
  • Built on Power architecture technology
  • 32 KB instruction cache and 32 KB data cache
  • Up to 400MHz performance delivering 760 MIPS
  • Double precision floating point unit and dual integer units
• User-programmable 32-bit RISC multimedia core operating at up to 200 MHz
• Integrated display controller supporting up to 1024 x 768 XGA resolution
• 2D/3D graphics core based on PowerVR MBX/VGP Lite
• SDRAM DDR-I/DDR-II/mobileDDR memory controller
• 12 programmable serial controllers supporting UART, SPI, AC97, I2S
• 10/100 Fast Ethernet media access controller (MAC)
• PCI 2.3 interface
• Three I2Cs
• Dual USB 2.0 On-the-Go (OTG) controller with an integrated high-speed PHY
• Parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA) controller
• Serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) controller
• Four CAN 2.0A/B modules
• 64-channel intelligent DMA I/O controller
• Secure digital host controller (SDHC) supporting MMC/SD/SDIO protocols
• Sony/Phillips digital interface format (S/PDIF) serial audio interface

For development,  Freescale  offers the ADS512101, an MPC5121e Base Development System, with Manufacturer Suggested Resale Price of $1,995.95.

Freescale  MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor will be shipped in 516-pin PBGA package (27×27 mm, 1 mm pitch).

For the future, Freescale plans to offer a version of the MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor without the 2D/3D graphics core.

Further reading: Freescale MPC5121e SoC Multi-Core Processor