New 32-bit BA25 Application Processor Adds More Performance to Royalty-Free BA2x Family

Processor intellectual property company Beyond Semiconductor and IP provider CAST, Inc. today unveiled a more powerful member of the BA2x Family of 32-bit processor IP cores.

The BA25™ Advanced Application Processor is designed to fulfill the requirements of demanding embedded applications and is suitable for use as the main processor for systems running general-purpose operating systems like Linux or Android.

The new processor operates at high frequencies (more than 800 MHz and 1,360 DMIPS in 65 nm LP) yet maintains a smaller silicon footprint than most competing application processors. It supports out-of-order completion and advanced branch prediction, and uses a seven-stage pipelined architecture with optional two-level caches and memory management functions.

“Ever-expanding feature requirements are driving ASIC architects to use powerful application processors to reach the performance and cost targets of next-generation products,” said Matjaz Breskvar, chief operating officer of Beyond Semiconductor. “The BA25—at a never-before-seen cost/performance point—is unlocking the potential for designers to tap into the vast software ecosystems of Linux and Android, reducing development cost while providing a richer experience to end users.”

The BA25 joins the BA22™ processor core, which has versions targeted at embedded systems and basic application processors. Both processors support the BA2™ instruction set architecture (ISA), providing efficient operation and extreme code density for greater system-wide power savings. Core packages include the Eclipse- and GNU-based BeyondStudio™ tool set to facilitate software development, and complete evaluation and development hardware kits are available.

“System designers have found the 32-bit BA2x Family’s combination of attractive, royalty-free licensing, competitive or superior performance and features, and fully supported design, debug, and integration to be a powerful combination,” said Nikos Zervas, vice president of marketing for CAST. “The new BA25 now brings these benefits to designers of more sophisticated systems, offering real competitive advantages over teams who don’t look beyond more traditional 32-bit providers.”

Already in use by early customers, the BA25 Advanced Application Processor Core is available immediately, and will be highlighted in CAST’s booth at DesignCon (#739). Learn more about the core and CAST by visiting www.cast-inc.com, calling +1 201.391.8300, or emailing [email protected]. Learn more about Beyond Semiconductor at www.beyondsemi.com.