Integrated Device Technology Inc duly introduced its fourth MIPS R3000-derivative RISController, the IDT79R3041, designed specifically for lowest-cost, entry level embedded processing applications. Claimed to provide 14 MIPS performance at 20MHz, the R3041 is aimed at applications such as low-end laser printers and entry level X-terminals because it combines the performance of the R3000 MIPS RISC CPU with on-chip cache and variable bus sizing for reduced system cost. It has 2Kb instruction cache ad 512Kb data cache on chip, and the variable bus sizing means that designers can mix 8-, 16-, and 32-bit devices on their boards to optimise cost-performance requirements. It comes in 16MHz and 20MHz versions and is packaged in an 84-pin PLCC. It is pin-, software-, and bus-compatible with the R3051 and R3081, one software system, ASIC, or interface chip development effort spans multiple price-performance points. High volume pricing for the 16MHz version will be $15.00, while the 20MHz version will be priced at $19.00. R3041 samples will be available by the end of this year, with production volumes scheduled for the first quarter of 1993, the Santa Clara, California company promised.
