eeProductCenter Ultimate Products 4.3

Analog Boards / Buses DSP Electromechanical Embedded Tools Interconnects Microprocessors Memory Logic and Interfaces Passives / Sensors PLDs / FPGAs Power Components Power Sources RF / Microwave Test / Measurement

Product Shopper New Product Info

(1)
NEC ELECTRONICS
NEC raises 32-bit ARM processor core performance

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says
"NEC's 90-nm, 700-MHz (931-MHz under nominal process conditions) dual-core implementation of the ARM11 MPCore multicore processor is being touted as the highest-performing ARM processor core on the market, while the ARM926EJ-S processor core is said to be the industry's fastest at 130 nm, clocking in at 400-MHz (532-MHz under nominal process conditions)."

Readers say:
"Incorporating it into our future designs depends on easy availability of reference platforms, tool chain."
"Would be nice to see associated firmware/software development tools."
"Snooze....more clock speed, whoopee.... This is expected, not ground breaking news."
"ARM926EJ-S is good enough for low end applications, but seems lack the sufficient support for the real-time OS -- the cost the context switch is much higher than expected. Also, its speed will prevent it from entering the high end applications domain."
"Not a big deal. Intel (DEC ) StrongARM is in the same class..."
"PPC 74xx fits our needs better. It comes in 400, 500 - 1000 MHz"

USABILITY RANK: 1

(2)
RAMTRON INTERNATIONAL
FRAM-based device retains logic states without power

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Ramtron International Corp. has expanded its non-volatile state saver family with the quad state saver's 4-bit FRAM-based device that retains logic states without power and restores outputs automatically upon power up."

Readers Say:
"This would be an excellent choice for embedded processors at remote locations."
"Could really pay off in some situations where you can't stand a logic glitch or undetermined state while you wait for your CPU to boot."
"Should list read/write cycle in time units."
"4-bits isn't enough info to be useful."
"Pricey for a 1 to 4 bit digital 'dipswitch'."

USABILITY RANK: 2

(3)
INTEL
Quad-core MPUs for multi-processor servers hit the market

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"According to Intel, the six Quad-Core Xeon 7300 series processors can deliver more than twice the performance and more than three times the performance per watt over its previous generation dual-core products. The devices complete the company's transition to its energy-efficient Core microarchitecture in less than 15 months."

Readers Say:
"We will buy Single board computers or blade servers based on this processor."
"Kick Butt!"
"It is a trend to integrate more cores into one chip, but do we afford to the frequently hardware upgrade?"
"Impressive computing power. Not something I'd normally need."

USABILITY RANK: 3

(4)
ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES
Quad-core Opteron delivers 15% higher processor performance

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Following on the heels of Intel Corp.'s launch of its quad-core MPU for multi-processor (MP) servers, Advanced Micro Devices has introduced for datacenter applications a quad-core Opteron that places four powerful computer cores on a single processor die."

Readers Say:
"Another MP, good luck"
"Appears a speed max has occurred, so multiple cores are now the rage."

USABILITY RANK: 5

(5)
SUN MICROSYSTEMS
World's fastest commodity MPU?

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Sun Microsystems Inc. has entered the commercial silicon market with what it claims is the world's fastest commodity microprocessor, the UltraSPARC T2. According to Sun Microsystems, the UltraSPARC T2 is the industry's first volume processor with eight cores and eight threads per core, and available for sale separate from its own systems."

Readers Say:
"Nice, but who needs that many threads and has no power for them? Seems like a Computer Science lab project"
"Our uses are much lower power"

USABILITY RANK: 10

(6)
FREESCALE
2-Mbit MRAM replaces two 1-Mbit nvRAMs

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Freescale Semiconductor has developed a 2-Mbit MRAM that replaces two 1-Mbit nvRAM parts with a single device designed to help reduce system cost and board area."

Readers Say:
"Next year, next size up....big deal....isn't this expected?"
"Need more capacity, and lower price."
"Great NV technology. Useful capacity."
"Natural progression, still too expensive for most apps."
"Speed fair but size could be better."

USABILITY RANK: 7

(7)
SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY
Memory chip blends NOR, NAND and RAM in unified architecture

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"SST (Silicon Storage Technology Inc.) is sampling the first in its All-in-One Memory product family, the SST88VP1107, which blends the key benefits of NOR, NAND and RAM in a unified architecture."

Readers Say:
"Nice all in one - good thing for small form factor devices!"
"Seems good, but still have a long way to go"
"Nice idea but probably not rocket science or something I'd ever use. Looks like a system in package multi-die part."
"Nice but it seems expensive to me."

USABILITY RANK: 6

(8)
MICRONAS
Processor enhances picture, sound quality in 1080p flat-panel TVs

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Designed to provide maximum picture and sound quality in 1080p flat-panel TVs, Micronas has started to sample its third-generation VCT-Premium processor. The VCT-Premium processor also supports expandability to 120-Hz and DTV broadcasting formats such as H.264."

Readers Say:
"Good to see 120Hz operation"
"Its price? Power consumption? And is it easy to integrate into a new system?"
"Good application."

USABILITY RANK: 9

(9)
HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR
1-Gbit mobile DRAM built at 66-nm

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Hynix Semiconductor Inc. plans to begin mass production of a 1-Gbit mobile DRAM built using 66-nm process technology in the first quarter of 2008. The 1-Gbit mobile DRAM is being touted as the industry's smallest, and will be available as a NAND flash Multi-Chip Package (NAND MCP), which combines DRAM and NAND flash in a single package, package-on-package (POP) stack, and known good die for System in Package (SIP) applications."

Readers Say:
"DRAM and NAND in the same package - about time!"
"A part with both SDRAM and DDR interfaces is a great thing since there are many embedded processors with SDRAM-only interfaces."

USABILITY RANK: 8

(10)
SILICON LABORATORIES
Silicon Labs doubles memory on small form factor MCUs

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says:
"Silicon Laboratories Inc. has doubled the flash code space to 16-kB on its latest small form factor 8-bit MCU series dubbed the C8051F336. A pipelined, single-cycle 8051 core delivers up to 25 MIPS of CPU bandwidth. High-performance analog features are integrated on-chip, including a highly-linear SAR ADC and programmable IDAC for analog measurement and control. The C8051F336 series is housed in a tiny 4-mm x 4-mm quad flat no-lead (QFN) package."

Readers Say:
"Evolutionary, not revolutionary."
"Not bad"
"It appears to have many of the same features as most other 8051 chips. Unique features need to be emphasized better."
"There are better architectures and the world is moving to 32-bits."
"Cheap and small, but I can't imagine what I would use it in..."

USABILITY RANK: 4

In case you were wondering, here's how Ultimate Products works: Our editors select up to 10 of the most significant products posted at www.eeProductCenter.com during the calendar quarter. Then, using an electronic balloting process, we submit the products with the accompanying editorial reviews to selected, qualified readers. Those readers score the products by technical significance and
USABILITY on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest score. The product ranked No. 1 in each category was judged as most technically significant for that category. Relative
USABILITY rankings and selected reader comments are also reported. More than 1,000 of you helped to choose these products. As always, we are grateful for your enthusiastic participation.

Patrick Mannion
Editor-in-Chief, Techonline Network and eeProductcenter.com
pmannion@cmp.com