▲ nRF54H20 Multi-Protocol SoC (Image courtesy of Nordic)

Suggesting the potential of SoCs to enable previously impossible IoT products
nRF54H20 Processor Achieves Highest Processing Efficiency and Performance Scores

Nordic Semiconductor has introduced the nRF54H20 application processor, which has demonstrated processing efficiency surpassing competitors' general-purpose MCUs and wireless SoCs through standardized EEMBC ULPMark-CM benchmarking.

Nordic announced on the 5th that it has demonstrated world-class processing efficiency and excellent processing performance for the nRF54H20 multi-protocol SoC (System-on-Chip), the first product in the nRF54H series.

This signifies the potential of SoCs to enable innovative IoT products that were previously impossible.

ULPMark-CM (ULPMark®-CoreMark) from the Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium EEMBC benchmarks processors configured with maximum processing efficiency or performance using CoreMark as the workload.

The application processor of the nRF54H20 recorded the highest processing efficiency and performance scores.

Processing efficiency is 515, CoreMark ULPMark-CM score is 170, and performance is 1292 Achieved a score of 132 in ULPMark-CM with CoreMark.

This score demonstrates that the nRF54H20's application processor offers an unrivaled combination of processing efficiency and performance.

While most processors are optimized for one of these characteristics, developers using the nRF54H20 can take advantage of both benefits by dynamically changing the configuration.

The nRF54H20 SoC features multiple Arm® Cortex®-M33 processors and multiple RISC-V™ coprocessors optimized for specific types of workloads.

The nRF54H20 is expected to revolutionize the market paradigm through the proven capabilities of application processors designed to handle high-performance processing with minimal power consumption.

In addition, application processing can be supported through other processors embedded in this SoC, which can significantly increase the overall processing performance of the SoC.

By utilizing a single low-power wireless SoC with processing performance suitable for advanced IoT applications, IoT products can be designed with a new approach.

A separate general-purpose MCU and an additional wireless SoC can be replaced with a single small SoC.

These highly integrated solutions can reduce the energy consumption and size of new IoT products and simplify their development.

The results of the nRF54H20, verified by the EEMBC benchmark, provide significant advantages to developers looking to implement processor-intensive wireless designs that require high efficiency.

Wireless SoCs capable of rapidly processing and responding to data are used in industrial automation, medical monitoring, etc. This is very important for battery-based IoT devices that require the same immediate action.

In addition, excellent processing efficiency and performance benefits can be enjoyed in various applications utilizing machine learning, edge processing, or sensor fusion, including advanced wearable and smart home devices.

Svein-Egil Nielsen, CTO and Senior Vice President of R&D at Nordic, stated, “These results are groundbreaking,” adding, “By providing world-class processing efficiency and unprecedented processing performance, we have once again established a new industry standard.”

He added, “I hope Nordic customers can explore new possibilities through these wireless solutions,” and “the nRF54H20 is Nordic’s fourth-generation product series and will redefine processing performance and energy efficiency.”