Product category:
Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: STMicroelectronics | Subject: STR910FA
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 19 June 2007
Benchmarks show benefit of MCU makeover
Upgraded Flash microcontroller delivers 25% greater system performance at a more competitive price.
STMicroelectronics has added a new model to its successful 32bit ARM9-based STR910F series of Flash microcontrollers Through technology enhancements, the new STR910FA delivers 25% greater system performance at a more competitive price, compared with the previous STR910F devices
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 10 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Colour LED driver does the work of three
24-output device drives video displays and signage comprising large numbers of high-brightness LEDs, saving costs compared with devices with fewer outputs.
Serial EEPROMs boast faster datarates
Operating at 1MHz, the M24M01-HR is able to complete a 1Mbit data transaction in 1s.
The STR910F microcontroller series, rich in connectivity with Ethernet, USB and CAN interfaces plus generous on-chip SRAM and Flash memory, has received a performance makeover.
The enhanced memory accelerator in the new STR910FA boosts performance by allowing the burst Flash memory to stream instructions more freely to its ARM966E CPU core.
Peak performance remains the same, at an impressive 96MIPS during the execution of sequential instructions, but the average performance has increased significantly when instructions are nonsequential, as a result of the larger memory accelerator.
Further reading
Filtering and ESD protection come together
First device to combine filtering and ESD protection for all speaker and microphone channels in multimedia-rich cellular handsets.
Silicon oscillators ease power management
No external components are required, allowing designers to eliminate the capacitance matching typically necessary with ceramic resonators.
Power Architecture MCUs upgrade automotive
New 32bit devices will support advanced functions, enable improved vehicle performance and economy, and deliver savings in development.
An excellent measure of average performance is the EEMBC AutoBench test suite, which consists of 16 real-time benchmark kernels.
Real-world applications, such as those found in factory automation, building automation and security, and point-of-sale equipment are represented with tests that include bit manipulation, interrupt response, math and DSP function, CPU efficiency and data movement.
Autobench test scores for the STR910FA registered an average of 25% better than those of the STR910F, indicating improved overall system performance due to improved flow of instructions to the CPU.
Additionally, the STR910FA showed an average performance gain of 36% over the closest competing Flash ARM7-based MCUs for like Autobench tests.
All tests are performed and certified independently by the EEMBC consortium, with results posted at www.eembc.org.
"Processor suppliers frequently claim performance improvements for their devices, but it's less common to go the extra mile, as STMicroelectronics has done, and actually back up these claims with objective benchmark data", says Markus Levy, EEMBC President.
"The objective comparison between the STR910FA and STR910F devices enabled by EEMBC benchmark scores will give STMicroelectronics customers the solid information they need to evaluate the new STR910FA device and understand the potential benefits it can bring to their designs".
In addition to improving performance, pricing for STR910FA devices has been reduced relative to equivalent STR910F devices, with resale prices for the new series starting at US $4.98 (STR910FAM32X6 in quantities of 10,000).
This places powerful Flash ARM9-based MCUs in the same price range as similar Flash ARM7-based MCUs.
Six additional members of the series have been added to the family, offering more memory size combinations, plus tiny new BGA144 packages measuring only 10 x 10mm.
The STR910FA MCU series offer Flash memory up to 544Kbyte and SRAM to 96Kbyte with a full set of peripherals that include an Ethernet MAC, USB, CAN, three UARTs/IrDAs, two SPIs, two I2Cs, eight channel 10bit ADC at 0.7us conversion, four 16bit timers, a three-phase AC motor-control unit, complete supervisor functions with low voltage reset and brown-out detect, a full-featured real-time clock at just 1uA, an external memory interface, an ETM9 debug and trace interface, and up to 80 I/Os, all 5V tolerant.
All devices operate from -40 to +85C.
• STMicroelectronics: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
