Intel Announces New Microarchitecture For Wireless And Internet Infrastructure Applications
Intel® XScale™ Microarchitecture Provides Flexibility
for Low Power, High Performance Devices and Systems
INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM CONFERENCE, SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 23, 2000 -- Intel Corporation today introduced a new chip
microarchitecture designed to benefit a wide variety of wireless Internet and networking infrastructure applications.
Called the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture, it has the flexibility to handle requirements for both ultra-low power and
high performance in devices ranging from Internet-ready cell phones to Internet infrastructure equipment.
Building on Intel® StrongARM* technology, the Intel XScale microarchitecture core is manufactured on Intel’s
advanced 0.18-micron process technology. It offers low power operation ranging from one ten-thousandth of a watt to 1.6
watts, and performance that allows it to operate at clock speeds approaching 1 GHz. This lets the new microarchitecture
meet the needs of a diverse set of Internet client devices as well as networking and storage equipment.
“The Intel XScale microarchitecture extends Intel’s role as a building block supplier to the worldwide Internet
economy,” said Ron Smith, vice president and general manager of
Intel’s Wireless Computing and Communications Group.
“The combination of very low power and high performance makes the Intel XScale microarchitecture well-suited for
Internet access devices, such as handheld and portable
applications where battery life is essential. The technology is also ideal for Internet infrastructure products such as
network and I/O processors, where ultimate performance is critical for moving and processing large amounts of data
quickly,” said Smith.
The Intel XScale microarchitecture can be used in a variety of communications market segments. According to Smith,
handheld device manufacturers could use the Intel XScale core to build devices that combine personal management and
calendar functions, wireless Internet access and wireless video.
The Intel XScale core can also increase the density, programmability and processing power of networking infrastructure
manufacturers’ next-generation infrastructure equipment, such as routers and switches. This capability provides Intel’s
networking and communications customers the ability easily to add new features and functions that help their products
intelligently manage rich content applications.
Delivering Low Power and High Performance
Intel has enhanced the low power capabilities of the Intel XScale microarchitecture with Intel® Dynamic Voltage
Management and Intel Media Processing Technology. Dynamic Voltage Management allows developers to scale the clock
frequency and voltage dynamically to adjust performance to application needs, while maintaining battery life. Intel®
Media Processing Technology is a co-processor engine that enables more power-efficient multimedia processing for
increasingly content-rich Internet applications.
The Intel XScale core includes extensions from the ARM* architecture, such as ARM Thumb instructions to reduce code size
and ARM media extensions to add digital signal
processor (DSP) functionality. The Intel XScale core is compliant with version 5.0 of the ARM Architecture, enabling
compatibility with operating systems, applications and tools.
Performance of the Intel XScale microarchitecture has been enhanced through Intel® Superpipelined technology that
results in high clock rates approaching 1 GHz.
“Intel expects to offer industry-leading capabilities for high performance with low power when we launch products using
the Intel XScale core starting later this year,” Smith said.
The Intel XScale microarchitecture will be supported by various operating systems, including Microsoft Windows CE*,
VXWorks* and IxWorks* from WindRiver, EPOC* from Symbian and Embedded Linux* from multiple vendors.
About IDF
The Intel Developer Forum Conference is Intel’s premier technical forum comprising nearly 250 sessions and hands-on labs
and more than 100 demonstrations of cutting-edge products and technologies. IDF attracts thousands of hardware and
software developers worldwide. Now in its third year, the semi-annual conference provides hardware OEMs (original
equipment manufacturers), IHVs (independent hardware vendors), and ISVs (independent software vendors) with in-depth
information on Intel technologies and initiatives. More information on the Intel Developer Forum can be found at
http://developer.intel.com/idf.
Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer,
networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at