StrongARM on APEX video board
Millipede
Friday 17th May 1996
Millipede announce StrongARM processor for APEX videographics board
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Acorn videographics hardware specialists Millipede now have the StrongARM
processor running on their APEX broadcast video board. This is an upgrade
for the current ARM610 or ARM3 processor daughterboard.
APEX is an advanced videographics processor engine, designed for high
quality, high performance real-time video applications. The StrongARM
upgrade should considerably enhance existing software and open up new
opportunities. For instance, there will be a significant increase in the
performance of the Eidos video codec software running on the board.
Initial tests using prototype silicon look exciting, with very significant
speed increases for image processing and image manipulation functions.
However, it is too early for Millipede to accurately quantify the
performance gains. "We first need to optimise some of our coding for
StrongARM", said Richard Jozefowski. "Our custom P3 chip architecture makes
extensive use of DMA and we need to ensure that we best utilise the
non-write-through data cache, whilst maintaining cache consistency." The
APEX firmware is contained in Flash memory, making it quick and easy to
update with StrongARM optimised code.
The blank circuit boards arrived yesterday at 10am and were professionally
assembled, working boards by the afternoon. Minor software changes to
support StrongARM were made as the boards were being assembled and the
hardware worked first time.
StrongARM upgrades for APEX should be available when production silicon
comes on line later this summer and are expected to be priced at about
250 UKP plus VAT.
For more information contact: in...@milliped.demon.co.uk
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