PMC upgrades systems to latest PowerPC chip

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Mar 25, 2005

The IC-e6-PMCa is designed around Freescale's PowerPC e600 processor and addresses the computing and design demands of markets such as defence, medical, transport, and telecommunications.

Interface Concept is introducing a new high performance, low power Prev/minC module, IC-e6-PMCa.

The IC-e6-PMCa is designed around Freescale's PowerPC e600 processor and is Interface Concept's solution for addressing the computing and design demands of markets such as defence, medical, transport, and telecommunications.

"Leveraging the MPC7447A PowerPC processor today with support for MPC7448 as it hits the market, Interface Concept is able to provide ideal PMC solutions based on the PowerPC architecture, which reinforces their position as a leading designer in the Freescale Design Alliance programme", said Pierre Bernoux, Distribution Marketing Director at Freescale Semiconductor.

"We're excited to extend our relationship with Interface Concept through their new commitment to the Freescale PowerPC processors based on the e600 core, from their long-standing involvement in Freescale's PowerQUICC processor-based board designs".

This mezzanine board, designed around the Freescale MPC7447A with support for the Freescale PowerPC product roadmap moving forward, offers speed options up to 1.5GHz today, DDR333-ECC SDRAM up to 512Mbyte and Flash EPROM of 64Mbyte.

An optional SODIMM socket on PMC back side allows expandable SDRAM capability.

The MPC7447A and MPC7448 PowerPC processors and accompanying Marvell Discovery III chipset (MV64460) have been chosen for their flexibility and performance.

The MPC7448 is expected to exceed 1.5GHz processing performance with even better performance with applications optimised for AltiVecT technology.

The MV64460 indeed, adds 2Mbyte of high speed SRAM, two XOR DMA (useful for RAID, ISCSI applications) and four IDMA engines.

As for peripheral functions, the IC-e6-PMCa features three gigabit Ethernet channels, two multipurpose serial controllers, backup SRAM, RTC, temperature sensor and a JTAG/COP interface for probe debugging.

Conformal coating and extended temperature versions are available.

The IC-e6-PMCa currently supports VxWorks and Linux.

onboard comprehensive firmware enables power-on built in test booting and remote software downloading over Ethernet.

The IC-e6-PMCa is designed to meet the needs of high-end performance processing required by PowerPC-based applications, such as real time computers, storage devices, routers, web switches, wireless infrastructures, image processing, and many others.

Customers looking for an enhanced processor module for their PowerPC solution can take advantage of the IC-e6-PMCa's performance.

Moreover, the combination of the MPC7448 and the Discovery III will allow them to integrate the IC-e6-PMCa into their existing system providing backward compatibility while preserving their investment.