TI Korea (CEO Kent Jeon, www.ti.com/ww/kr ) November 16, 2012 – Generally, when people think of cloud computing, most think of applications, servers, storage, and connectivity. However, for TI, it means more than just simple connectivity services. TI has introduced six new multicore system-on-chip (SoC) products to build better cloud environments. Built on the award-winning Keystone architecture, these SoCs provide integrated capabilities and superior performance while significantly reducing energy consumption to dramatically revitalize cloud computing and breathe new life and vitality into pivotal infrastructure systems.

TI's Direction for Better Cloud Solutions
• Achieving a safer society using improved climate modeling
• Enhancing the profitability of time-sensitive financial analysis systems
• Improvement of productivity and safety in energy exploration
• Faster commuting on safer highways using safer cars
• Provides excellent video regardless of time, place, or screen
• Improvement of factory productivity and eco-friendliness
• Protecting the global environment through reduced overall energy consumption

In addition, the possibilities enabled by TI's new Keystone multicore SoC are endless. These 28nm devices integrate TI's fixed-point and floating-point TMS320C66x digital signal processor (DSP) cores to provide the best performance-to-watt ratio in the DSP industry. In addition, by integrating multiple ARM® Cortex™-A15 MPCore processors, it is possible to develop various types of infrastructure applications that enable a more efficient cloud experience by delivering unprecedented performance while significantly lowering power consumption. Furthermore, TI has for the first time combined the Cortex-A15 processor with C66x DSP cores and integrated packet processing and Ethernet switching. This unique combination makes it possible to alleviate the workload and improve performance of first-generation general-purpose cloud computing servers that struggle to handle “big data” applications, such as high-performance computing and video processing.

Rob Sherrard, Vice President of Service Delivery at Nimbix, stated, “Utilizing multicore DSPs in a cloud environment can accelerate computationally intensive cloud applications, leading to significant improvements in performance and operations.” He added, “It was a natural choice for us to select TI’s Keystone multicore SoC. TI’s multicore software can conveniently integrate various types of high-performance cloud workloads, such as video, imaging, analytics, and computing. Nimbix will continue to work closely with TI to significantly reduce OPEX for high-performance computing users.”

TI's latest six SoCs include the 66AK2E02, 66AK2E05, 66AK2H06, 66AK2H12, AM5K2E02, and AM5K2E04, all of which are based on the Keystone multicore architecture. Because these new products utilize Keystone's low-latency, high-bandwidth MSMC (Multicore Shared Memory Controller), they achieve approximately 50% improved memory throughput compared to other RISC-based SoCs. By integrating security processing, networking, and switching to simultaneously reduce system costs and power consumption, developers can create more economical and eco-friendly applications and workloads, such as high-performance computing, video delivery, and media and image processing. This proprietary integration of functions has enabled developers of media and image processing applications to create highly dense media solutions.

Keystone Multicore SoC Function Applications
66AK2E02

66AK2E05 1 Cortex-A15 processor
1 C66x DSP

4 Cortex-A15 processors
1 C66x DSP Enterprise Video, IP Cameras (IPNC), Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), Video Analytics, Industrial Imaging, Voice Gateway, Portable Medical Equipment
66AK2H06

66AK2H12 2 Cortex-A15 processor
4 C66x DSPs

4 Cortex-A15 processors
8 C66x DSPs High-performance computing, media processing, video conferencing, offline image processing and analysis, video recorders (DVR/NVR), gaming, virtual desktop infrastructure, medical imaging equipment
AM5K2E02

AM5K2E04 2 Cortex-A15 processor

4 Cortex-A15 Processors Cloud Infrastructure, Routers, Switches, Networking Control Planes, Wireless Transmission, Wireless Network Control, Industrial Sensor Control

Joe Ye, President of CyWee, stated, “The two words that come to mind when using TI’s Keystone devices are ‘vision’ and ‘innovation.’ Our goal is to provide solutions that bridge the digital and physical worlds.” “By being able to deliver advanced video to virtual server environments using TI’s new SoC devices, we have taken another step closer to our goals. Through our collaboration with TI, Cywi is now able to provide richer multimedia experiences in various types of cloud fields, such as cloud gaming, virtual offices, video conferencing, and remote education,” he said.

Comprehensive tools and support for streamlined development
TI provides a comprehensive software platform and affordable tools to support streamlined development with its scalable Keystone Architecture. Over the past two years, TI has developed multicore devices compatible with more than 20 software applications, including DSP-based solutions, ARM-based solutions, and hybrid solutions combining DSP and ARM-based processing. All are built on two generations of the Keystone Architecture. By leveraging TI’s compatible platforms for multicore DSPs and SoCs, users can conveniently design power-efficient, cost-effective, and integrated products. Available for a wide range of devices operating at clock speeds from 850 MHz up to 15 GHz, prices start at $30.

In addition, TI provides an easy-to-use Evaluation Module (EVM) to enable developers to quickly get started with development using Keystone multicore solutions. By utilizing a robust multicore tool and software ecosystem, developers will be able to streamline programming tasks and reduce development time. The price is under $1,000.

In addition, it provides a global community and support through the TI Design Network, which consists of companies that provide products and services supporting TI multicore solutions. Representative companies providing solutions to support TI's new Keystone-based multicore SoC include 3L Ltd., 6WIND, Advantech, Aricent, Azcom Technology, Canonical, CriticalBlue Enea, Ittiam Systems, Mentor Graphics, mimoOn, Nash Technologies, PolyCore Software, and Wind River.

Supply and Price
Samples of the 66AK2Hx SoC are currently being supplied, with additional device supply scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2013 and EVM supply in the second quarter of 2013. Samples and EVMs for the AM5K2Ex and 66AK2Ex are scheduled to begin supply in the second half of 2013. Pricing starts at $49 per unit for quantities of 1,000.

TI Participates in Electronica 2012
TI is participating in the Electronica exhibition. If you visit the TI booth (Hall A4, Booth 420), you can explore the latest embedded processing and analog technologies as well as various TI demos. (For more details, see www.ti.com/electronica2012 )

More detailed information about TI multicore
• TI's latest Keystone SoC
• “Better Cloud Solutions” White Paper
• Watch product overview video and the latest Ask the Experts video
• Video about cloud-based experiences
• Details on TI Multicore
• TI E2E™ Communit and Multicore Mix Blog
• TI Twitter
• TI Facebook

TI's Keystone Multicore Architecture
TI's Keystone multicore architecture serves as a platform for true multicore innovation, providing developers with a robust portfolio of high-performance, low-power multicore devices. Based on the groundbreaking performance of the Keystone architecture, TI has developed a new generation of TMS320C66x DSP products. Keystone distinguishes itself from other multicore architectures by delivering complete processing performance to every core of a multicore device. Keystone-based devices are optimized for high-performance markets such as wireless base stations, mission-critical applications, test and automation, medical imaging, and high-performance computing. (For more information, please refer to www.ti.com/multicore )