New microprocessors boost performance, integration

Ideal for single-board computing, communications and networking, these 1.5 GHz Texas Instruments (TI) Sitara ARM MPUs offer customers software compatibility, reduced system cost and software for easy development.

October 21, 2010

Texas Instruments (TI) expands its portfolio of industry-leading Sitara ARM microprocessors (MPUs) with new AM389x Sitara ARM MPUs that dramatically boost performance and integration. Offering the industry’s highest-performing, single-core ARM Cortex-A8 with performance at up to 1.5 GHz, the AM389x Sitara ARM MPUs also integrate peripherals that make them perfect for applications such as single-board computers, gateways, routers, servers, industrial automation, human machine interfaces (HMIs) and point-of-service data terminals.  These newest high-performance AM389x Sitara ARM MPUs enable faster end products that include network connectivity, graphical user interfaces and display capabilities and the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously for multiple operating systems, such as Linux, Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7 and Android.

Extreme integration for connectivity and cost efficiencies

The two new devices in the AM389x Sitara ARM MPU generation are the AM3892 and the AM3894, both packed with several high-bandwidth integrated peripherals, including PCIExpress Gen2, SATA 2.0, dual Gigabit Ethernet and dual DDR2/DDR3 interfaces.  This rich and unique combination of peripherals, optimized for a broad array of applications, allows for quick transmission of data on and off the chip to take advantage of the performance of the ARM Cortex-A8 core within each processor.  Because all of these peripherals are integrated on-chip, they save printed circuit board (PCB) space and can reduce bill of materials (BOM) cost while allowing customers to include more features into smaller form-factor end equipment.

Advanced display capabilities and 3D graphics

The AM3892 and AM3894 Sitara ARM MPUs offer an on-chip display engine allowing output of two different streams of content for dual, simultaneous high-resolution displays.  This display capability is perfect for applications requiring a seamless graphical, dual-screen experience.  For example, HMI applications can use one display for a touch screen keyboard and the other display to view machine performance output.  Additionally, the AM3894 Sitara ARM MPU features a 3D graphics accelerator to enable richer graphical user interfaces and an enhanced user experience.  

Evaluate in minutes; begin development in less than an hour

Both the new Sitara ARM MPUs and the Integra DSP + ARM processors are supported by a single hardware evaluation module (EVM) and a single TI EZ Software Development Kit (EZ SDK), allowing customers to evaluate their devices in minutes and begin development in less than an hour.  The Sitara ARM MPUs and Integra DSP + ARM processors also share a common development environment to accelerate time to market and reduce development costs.

Analog | Embedded processing | Semiconductor company | TI.com

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– Edited by Amanda McLeman, Control Engineer, CFE Media, Home