Freescale and Nvidia are shipping a reference design for mobile devices based on Freescale's newest SoC (system-on-chip) processor and Nvidia's newest mobile graphics chip. The design offers accelerated 3D and targets gaming and other multimedia devices, and is supported by a Linux BSP (board support package) from Freescale subsidiary Metrowerks.

The i.MX21 SoC (system-on-chip), which is now shipping, according to Freescale, is based on a low-power ARM926EJ-S core clocked between 266 and 400MHz. The 0.13nm process chip integrates hardware Java acceleration, MPEG-4 and H.263 acceleration, a variety of standard interfaces, and an external 3D graphics bus master interface.

In addition to the i.MX21, the reference design includes the GoForce 3D 4500, a just-shipped addition to NVIDIA's “WMP” (wireless media processor) line. Nvidia says the chip can render “incredibly realistic environments with objects that behave according to complex physics.”

The combined Freescale/Nvidia reference design includes a hardware platform made by ADS, reference software drivers, middleware, demo content software, documentation, and tools, the companies say. It targets devices that can be used to download and play video games. In five years, the global market for downloadable gaming to reach $7B according to market research from Strategy Analytics, the companies say.

Metrowerks announced a Linux BSP for the i.MX21 in July, based on CELF Linux. MontaVista has also announced support for the chip.

Availability

The i.MX21 multimedia applications processor is available as part of a bundled package that includes an ADS development board and Metrowerks tools, with a Linux BSP optionally available. Both the i.MX21 and the GoForce 3D 4500 are shipping now.

 
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