All IPs > Processor > Building Blocks
Processor building blocks are fundamental components within the realm of semiconductor IPs that play a crucial role in the development and optimization of processors. These building blocks are indispensable for crafting sophisticated, high-performance processors required in a wide range of electronic devices, from handheld gadgets to large-scale computing systems.
Processor semiconductor IP building blocks include key elements such as arithmetic logic units (ALUs), registers, and control units, which integrate to form the central processing unit (CPU). Each of these components contributes to the overall functionality of the processor. ALUs enable the processor to perform arithmetic operations and logical decisions, while registers provide the necessary storage for quick data access. Control units are responsible for interpreting instructions and coordinating other components to execute tasks efficiently. Together, these building blocks ensure that processors perform at optimal levels, handling complex computational tasks with ease.
One of the primary uses of processor building blocks is in creating devices that require advanced computational power, such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, and servers. These semiconductor IPs help in the design of custom processors that meet specific performance, power consumption, and cost requirements. By leveraging these building blocks, designers can develop processors that are tailored to particular applications, thereby enhancing the overall performance and efficiency of devices. This customizability also facilitates innovations in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and autonomous vehicles, where processors need to handle rapidly growing workloads.
The processor building blocks category in our Silicon Hub encompasses a diverse range of semiconductor IPs that cater to different processing needs. From general-purpose processors with balanced performance to specialized processors with optimized functionalities, this category provides essential components for developing next-generation electronic solutions. By utilizing these building blocks, designers and engineers can push the boundaries of processing technology, creating more capable and efficient devices that meet the evolving demands of modern consumers and industries.
Cortus's High Performance RISC-V Processor represents the pinnacle of processing capability, designed for demanding applications that require high-speed computing and efficient task handling. It features the world’s fastest RISC-V 64-bit instruction set architecture, implemented in an Out-of-Order (OoO) execution core, supporting both single-core and multi-core configurations for unparalleled processing throughput. This processor is particularly suited for high-end computing tasks in environments ranging from desktop computing to artificial intelligence workloads. With integrated features such as a multi-socket cache coherent system and an on-chip vector plus AI accelerator, it delivers exceptional computation power, essential for tasks such as bioinformatics and complex machine learning models. Moreover, the processor includes coherent off-chip accelerators, such as CNN accelerators, enhancing its utility in AI-driven applications. The design flexibility extends its application to consumer electronics like laptops and supercomputers, positioning the High Performance RISC-V Processor as an integral part of next-gen technology solutions across multiple domains.
DolphinWare IPs is a versatile portfolio of intellectual property solutions that enable efficient SoC design. This collection includes various control logic components such as FIFO, arbiter, and arithmetic components like math operators and converters. In addition, the logic components span counters, registers, and multiplexers, providing essential functionalities for diverse industrial applications. The IPs in this lineup are meticulously designed to ensure data integrity, supported by robust verification IPs for AXI4, APB, SD4.0, and more. This comprehensive suite meets the stringent demands of modern electronic designs, facilitating seamless integration into existing design paradigms. Beyond their broad functionality, DolphinWare’s offerings are fundamental to applications requiring specific control logic and data integrity solutions, making them indispensable for enterprises looking to modernize or expand their product offerings while ensuring compliance with industry standards.
The SiFive Essential processors offer a highly flexible IP platform, allowing customization to fit specific application needs. These processors span microcontrollers, IoT devices, real-time control, and general processing tasks. With options ranging from the most compact 2-3 stage MCUs to complex, superscalar designs suitable for Linux-based applications, the Essential series provides exceptional configurability. It caters to a wide range of market demands while maintaining a focus on power and area optimization, making it optimal for embedded systems and control plane processing.
ADICSYS Soft eFPGA provides a flexible and scalable embedded FPGA solution for ASICs and SoCs, ensuring seamless integration with standard RTL design flows. This synthesizable IP supports a rapid design cycle, enabling users to implement custom logic configurations post-production. The eFPGA is particularly beneficial in applications requiring adaptability and programmability, such as prototyping, design validation, and custom processing solutions. With its technology-independent architecture, it offers an excellent balance of power, performance, and area (PPA), suited for diverse fields like aerospace and telecommunications.
The Akeana 1000 Series offers 64-bit RISC-V processors tailored for high-performance computing and data processing. These processors are versatile, supporting various applications from smart homes to automotive sensing. With a focus on performance, the series includes multi-threading support and options for in-order or out-of-order execution, providing solutions to different computational needs. Configurable with instruction issue widths ranging from single to quad-issue, the Akeana 1000 Series addresses a wide spectrum of applications. This mid-range offering features memory management units with substantial TLB capacity, supporting address translation for efficient process management. Enhanced by ECC support, these processors ensure data integrity across tasks. With customization options including vector extensions and shared cache configurations, the Akeana 1000 Series stands as an adaptable solution for high-end microcontroller and gateway applications. It balances power and performance, extending its utility to industrial automation and edge AI applications.
Imec's Monolithic Microsystems embody the seamless integration of diverse functionalities onto a single chip, heralding a new era of miniaturization and efficiency in various applications. These microsystems are crafted through state-of-the-art semiconductor processes, allowing for the incorporation of multiple components into one coherent unit. This innovation is particularly revolutionary for technologies requiring sophisticated multi-domain integration, such as wearable devices, medical implants, and smart sensors. By uniting digital logic, sensors, actuators, and communication capabilities onto a single chip, the Monolithic Microsystems greatly reduce the need for additional components, thereby minimizing device size and enhancing reliability. Imec's comprehensive approach to microsystem development ensures that these chips deliver powerful capabilities with low energy consumption, meeting the demands of modern technologies aiming for sustainability without sacrificing performance. As a cornerstone of smart technology advancement, Monolithic Microsystems set the stage for future integrated solutions in complex tech ecosystems.
The EMSA5-FS, part of CAST's burgeoning suite of RISC-V solutions, stands out with its emphasis on functional safety, geared towards applications requiring rigorous reliability. This 32-bit embedded processor core adheres to rigorous safety standards, making it optimal for sectors such as automotive and industrial automation where system failures could have critical consequences. Functional safety is paramount with the EMSA5-FS, ensuring operations are secured against potential faults. This core includes specific features that enhance its reliability and help mitigate the risks inherent in functional safety applications. It supports both safe execution and error handling, conforming to high compliance levels needed for certification in critical environments. By offering a robust solution designed for tasks that cannot afford failure, the EMSA5-FS extends CAST's footprint into the rapidly expanding field of safety-critical systems. It provides manufacturers with the assurance of performance stability under the most demanding operational conditions, thereby supporting the creation of cutting-edge, compliant technologies.
The RAIV is a flexible and high-performing General Purpose GPU (GPGPU), fundamental for industries experiencing rapid transformation due to the fourth industrial revolution—autonomous vehicles, IoT, and VR/AR sectors. Built with a SIMT (Single Instruction Multiple Threads) architecture, the RAIV enhances AI workloads with high-speed processing capabilities while maintaining a low-cost construct. This semiconductor IP supports diverse machine learning and neural network applications, optimizing high-speed calculations across multiple threads. Its high scalability allows tailored configurations in core units, effectively balancing performance with power efficiency dependent on application needs. The RAIV is equipped to handle 3D graphics processing and AI integration for edge computing devices, reinforcing its place in advanced technological development. Additionally, the RAIV's support for OpenCL offers compatibility across various heterogeneous computing platforms, facilitating versatile system configurations. Its optimal performance in AI tasks is further extended for use in metaverse applications, presenting a comprehensive solution that unifies graphics acceleration with AI-enhanced computational operations.
The CwIP-RT is a real-time processing core tailored for applications that necessitate rapid and efficient data processing. This powerful core is ideal for environments where time-sensitive data operations are critical, providing developers with a robust platform to execute complex data tasks seamlessly. The CwIP-RT is built to manage substantial data loads while maintaining precise operational efficiency, embodying Coreworks' commitment to high-performance computing solutions. Designed for diverse computing environments, the CwIP-RT offers flexibility and reliability, ensuring that it can adapt to the varying demands of real-time applications. Its architecture supports rapid data throughput, making it suitable for cutting-edge computing systems that require swift and efficient data handling. This processing core is engineered to integrate effortlessly with existing systems, providing enhanced processing capabilities without complicating system architecture. Coreworks' attention to detail in optimizing processing performance manifests in the CwIP-RT's design, which emphasizes both speed and accuracy. It's an essential tool for developers aiming to improve the responsiveness and processing power of their systems, making it invaluable for applications that include real-time analytics, IoT, and advanced computational tasks. With the CwIP-RT, Coreworks offers a solution that pushes the boundaries of real-time processing while ensuring stability and reliability.
GIRD Systems develops highly configurable IP cores, designed to be hardware-agnostic, which are instrumental in digital signal processing (DSP), communications, and electronic warfare (EW) applications. These cores are defined through inferred VHDL implementations and can be efficiently adapted onto several platforms including Xilinx, Altera, and Microsemi FPGAs, besides being applicable for ASICs and various synthesis targets. The company's approach eliminates the need for re-coding across different target platforms, drastically reducing the time-to-market and fostering multi-target design adaptability. With performance and portability at its heart, these IP cores facilitate the deployment of sophisticated algorithms across disparate hardware, while maintaining consistency and performance standards. By enabling manufacturers to target a broad array of applications without having to rewrite underlying code, GIRD Systems' IP cores streamline the development process and enhance design flexibility. These offerings are backed by comprehensive support and documentation to ensure seamless integration into existing workflows, effectively advancing signal processing capabilities within diverse operational frameworks.
The iCan PicoPop® System on Module (SOM) is a high-performance miniaturized module designed to meet the advanced signal processing demands of modern avionics. Built on the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC from Xilinx, it provides unparalleled computational power ideal for complex computation tasks. This SOM is perfectly suited for embedded applications within aerospace sectors, offering flexibility and performance critical for video processing and other data-intensive tasks. The compactness of the PicoPop® does not detract from its capabilities, allowing it to fit seamlessly into tight spaces while providing robust functionality. The versatility and scalability of the iCan PicoPop® make it an attractive option for developers seeking high-data throughput and power efficiency, supporting enhanced performance in avionics applications. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, this module elevates the standard for embedded electronic solutions in aviation.
The BA51 is an ultra-low-power, embedded processor core within the RISC-V family. Designed for energy-efficient applications, it is particularly suited to battery-operated devices. The core is designed to offer developers the flexibility needed to craft power-conscious designs while still achieving the computational prowess expected of a modern embedded system. Within the architecture of the BA51, several advanced measures are implemented to ensure power efficiency without sacrificing performance. The streamlined instruction set of the RISC-V architecture is harnessed to reduce the power draw, ensuring consistent operation under constrained power conditions. This adaptability makes the BA51 ideal for management in IoT devices, portable systems, and other domains where low-power usage is critical. The BA51 further supports integration options that minimize its footprint on silicon, ensuring it meets the cost and space requirements often encountered in compact designs. By leveraging the open-source nature of RISC-V, the BA51 offers an adaptable and cost-effective solution for modern computing needs.
Designed for ultra-small size and low power applications, the Akeana 100 Series consists of highly configurable 32-bit RISC-V processors. These processors feature short pipelines and in-order execution architectures, making them ideal for embedded microcontrollers and real-time processing. With options for up to 512 KB of closely-coupled memory, this series is well-suited for smart home devices, drones, and wearables requiring efficient power management. The Akeana 100 Series includes variations such as different pipeline stages and instruction issue configurations, catering to area and power-constrained microcontrollers. The series also allows extensive customization through add-ons like larger instruction or data caches and specialized instruction sets, meeting unique application needs. Moreover, its Physical Memory Protection feature enhances security across different usage scenarios. This entry-level series provides one of the broadest processor IP portfolios available, offering flexibility from basic configurations to high-performance models. Akeana's 100 Series serves as a compelling entry point for industries seeking efficient, scalable processing solutions, whether for low cost or low power demands.
Targeting the ultra-high performance market, the Akeana 5000 Series offers 64-bit RISC-V processors optimized for intense computation demands. These processors find their niche in data center infrastructure, mobile computing, and cloud networking, where high clock frequencies and virtualization capabilities are paramount. Incorporating a 12-stage, out-of-order pipeline, the Akeana 5000 Series supports extensive memory management unit configurations, enabling robust memory address translation. Multi-threading and wide instruction dispatch broaden its computational reach, allowing seamless scaling to coherent processor clusters. The series supports a broad set of features, including vector and cryptographic extensions, enabling a comprehensive solution for AI training and advanced networking applications. Customers can customize cache sizes and instruction extensions, tailoring performances to their specific operational needs, thus ensuring optimal execution across a broad range of platforms.
The BA25 is a high-performance application processor core designed by CAST for resource-intensive environments. As part of the RISC-V family, it delivers a substantial boost in computational capabilities, making it a prime choice for integrating into complex and demanding systems. Aimed at applications requiring increased data throughput and complex processing, the BA25 handles high-volume tasks efficiently. Its architecture is crafted to support applications in areas such as advanced networking, industrial control, and multimedia platforms, where reliable and rapid processing is a necessity. The core's efficiency and speed allow it to address the diverse processing needs at the heart of modern digital applications. Through its design, it presents a scalable and adaptable solution for developers seeking enhanced processing capabilities in their systems, while adhering to the principles of open-source flexibility offered by RISC-V.
The BA53 represents CAST's line of low-power embedded processor cores in the RISC-V range, designed for applications where energy and performance balance is key. It strikes an optimal blend between power saving and processing capabilities, making it well-suited for low to medium performance tasks in embedded devices. This 32-bit processor core boasts a suite of energy-saving features that allow it to maintain operational efficiency without compromising on the speed of data processing. It's tailored to meet the needs of developers delivering products in industries like telecommunications, automotive electronics, and industrial automation. With its ease of integration and versatile application potential, the BA53 facilitates streamlined development in projects that necessitate a tailored but robust processing backbone, adding both functionality and time-to-market advantage for devices tapping into the burgeoning smart device and connected system sectors.