ARM has expanded its portfolio of ARM Processor Optimization Pack (POP) solutions targeting several ARM Cortex processors for TSMC’s 28 nm and 40 nm process technologies. The company will release nine POP configurations for Cortex-A15, Cortex-A9, Cortex-A7, and Cortex-A5 processor cores.
To obtain an enhanced ARM core implementation, an ARM POP solution comprises three components, namely ARM Artisan Physical IP logic libraries and memory instances, a complete benchmarking report, and a POP implementation guide.
Using ARM POPs, partners can rapidly close timing of quad-, dual- single-core implementations throughout a variety of area, power and performance optimization points. These solutions lower risks and enhance market-reach time for Cortex processor-based SoCs, thus enabling partners to obtain competitive results within six weeks.
At the advanced 28-nm high performance and 28-nm high performance for mobile (HPM) process variants, ARM is releasing new POPs targeting the Cortex-A9 core, and the first POPs targeting the latest Cortex-A15 and Cortex-A7 processors. Besides offering POPs for the Cortex-A9 and Cortex-A5 processors at TSMC 40 nm low power (LP) process, ARM is now introducing new POPs for the Cortex-A7.
Moreover, ARM, in partnership with TSMC, will release new POP variants that are compatible with the newest high-speed choices for TSMC 40 nm LP, enabling the process options to leverage the POP implementation advantages. ARM partners are shipping ARM POPs targeting Cortex-A9 (1.4 GHz) and Cortex-A5 (1.0 GHz) for TSMC 40 nm LP in production chips for applications, including smart phones, mobile computing, set-top box and smart televisions.