Intel Corp kicked off the Embedded Processor Forum in San Jose, California yesterday by disclosing details of its next generation StrongARM technology, aimed primarily at the handheld and internet access devices markets. Intel acquired the StrongARM business from Digital Equipment Corp in October 1997 as part of a patent infringement settlement.
On current estimates Intel says that the new StrongARM which is due to sample during the first half of 2000, will deliver two to three times the performance of the current generation while keeping power consumption below one-half watt. With clock speeds in the range of 150MHz to 600MHz, the parts will deliver performance of between 185 and 750 MIPS. That compares with the one watt of power currently needed by StrongARM chips running at 233MHz.
The MIPS-per-milliwatt ratio would be maximized by using advanced microarchitecture and circuit design techniques, the company said. Those include a pipelined architecture with seven-stage integer and eight-stage memory pipelines, for high execution rates at high clock speeds. Data throughput will be boosted by dynamic branch prediction and extensive data bypassing techniques. Intel will also add Dynamic Voltage Management techniques to extend battery life, including aggressive voltage scaling, low power modes that turn off portions of circuitry when idle and wake up quickly when they are needed. The new version will retain compatibility with current versions of the StrongARM.
International Data Corp figures put growth in the smart handheld devices market, which include smart phones, handheld companions and other vertical application devices, at a compound annual growth rate of 43% between 1998 and 2002, by which time worldwide shipments will be over 25 million in a market worth more than $13bn.
