Embedded 32-Bit Cores Hit 1 GHz

Head to head
The MIPS32 74K and Cortex-A9 are essentially the same in terms of performance and target audience. They're rated at 1.8 DMIPS/MHz and 2.0 DMIPS/MHz, respectively. Both can be configured with different size and complexity caches, and they can be surrounded with a range of standard peripherals. This silicon ecosystem often makes the difference when creating a system design.

Both cores utilize a TSMC 65-nm generic process. MIPS is the first company out of the chute with implementations in the gigahertz range. The Cortex-A9 will likely start out at about 500 MHz, climbing quickly to 1 GHz, given the demand for higher performance.

The two cores are close in size as well. The 74K core is about 1.7 mm2, while the Cortex-A9 is about 1.5 mm2. The difference is minor, and the final size of a chip will vary significantly based upon other factors such as cache size, peripherals, and the number and width of buses employed. Designers have a wide range of options with both architectures.

The companies take a similar third-party approach to software. They also include their own C/C++ tools. ARM has its RealView compiler suite, while the MIPS Software Toolkit combines open-source tools that have been optimized for the MIPS platforms.

ARM www.arm.com

MIPS www.mips.com