XMOS puts multicore in mass market for under $5 per core

SUNNYVALE, USA & BRISTOL, ENGLAND: XMOS has launched its 2nd generation of event-driven processors, the XS1-L series, targeted at the mass electronics market with a sub $5 price point. The XS1-L family provides embedded software developers with an energy-efficient, scalable, multi-core solution which enables them to build complete systems combining interface, DSP and control functions entirely in software.

Built on a 65nm process, the XS1-L1 is sampling with customers now. It is available in easy-to-use packages and any number of devices can easily be linked together with XMOS links, scaling to larger systems, as required. The dual-core XS1-L2 will sample in Q3 2009.

XMOS CEO, James Foster, said: “In the mass electronics market, the agility and speed delivered by XS1-L devices are important. It is widely recognized that developers are dissatisfied with the high NREs and 6 month turn-around associated with the ASICs they are currently using. Implementing complete systems with FPGAs is just not cost-effective. Developers are crying out for a programmable solution at the right price point. XMOS event-driven processors meet this market need, providing rapid programmability in C together with tools that are easy to use.”

Foster continued: “The launch of the XS1-L marks XMOS’ emergence as a major player in the global consumer electronics market. We already have over 400 customers and demand for the XS1-L is strong especially in audio DSP, USB peripherals, networked LED displays and robotics.”

Each XS1-L XCore™ contains a 32-bit processor and operates up to 400MIPS. XCore power consumption is below 500µW in sleep mode and 20mW in standby with active power adding under 450µW/MHz. The event-driven architecture, together with XMOS' programming tools enables XCores to switch automatically between standby and active saving up to 90% of energy in low duty-cycle applications - no special programming is needed.

XS1-L devices are supported by tools available free of charge from the XMOS website. A new development kit, the XC-5, based on the XS1-L1 is also available. Because it is based on an entirely software-based design flow that uses C and the XMOS originated XC programming language, existing reference designs and design examples can be targeted at the new XS1-L family of devices.

Pricing and availability
The XS1-L1 device is currently available in a 10x10 LQFP64 package (samples available now) and a 14x14 TQFP128 package (samples available in July) both priced under $5 for 10k unit quantities.