San Jose, CA — (press release excerpt) — STMicroelectronics rolled out three new chips in its STPC family of highly integrated x86 PC-compatible system-on-chip (SOC) devices at the Embedded Microprocessor Forum earlier this week. The 0.25µ fabrication technology allows the three devices to offer high integration, low power consumption, and low cost.

Each of the new STPC SOCs is targeted to a slightly different class of applications:

• STPC Elite — the “Server Appliance Engine”, for “headless applications” (i.e. without displays). Typical applications are expected to be network attached storage, firewalls, web servers, fax Servers, print servers, home gateways, routers, PBX, etc.

• STPC Consumer-II — the “TV Appliance Engine”, for appliances that use a TV or monitor for display and video capability. Typical applications are expected to be web boxes, web-enabled TVs and TV set-top boxes, web DVD, etc.

• STPC Atlas — the “Internet Appliance / Terminal engine”, for appliances and terminals with CRT or TFT LCD displays. Typical applications are expected to be Internet terminals, thin-client terminals, web-phones, web-pads, automotive navigation devices, and entertainment systems.

Summary of features

Functions common to all three devices:

• 64-bit, 133MHz X86 compatible CPU
  
• 8K L1 cache
  
• 64-bit SDRAM memory controller with transfer rates up to 720MBytes/sec
  
• PC compatible DMA, interrupt, timing controllers
  
• ISA and PCI bus controllers
  
• Bus mastering EIDE controller
  
• JTAG test port

  In addition to the common functions, the STPC Elite adds:
  

• 16-line general purpose I/O block

  In addition to the common functions, the STPC Consumer-II adds:
  

• VGA/SVGA-compatible graphics accelerator with RAMDAC
  
• PAL/NTSC TV video output interface
  
• Video input port

  In addition to the common functions, the STPC Atlas adds:
  

• VGA/SVGA-compatible graphics accelerator with RAMDAC
  
• TFT LCD display interface
  
• Video input port
  
• PS/2 keyboard and mouse
  
• PC compatible dual-UART and parallel port
  
• Dual USB host hub
  
• PCMCIA / Cardbus controller

The migration to 0.25µ technology has allowed the clock speed to be increased to up to 133MHz, while reducing power consumption at 133MHz to just 2.5W (Consumer-II and Atlas) and 1.5W (Elite), at 100% CPU utilization with all peripherals exercised. The devices are packaged in low cost plastic BGA packages, and support both commercial (0 to 100 deg. C) and industrial (-40 to 115 deg. C) temperature ranges.

“Magneti-Marelli has worked with ST to optimize the specification of the graphics engine of the STPC Atlas or moving map displays with the highest quality and already has working prototype systems. We have demonstrated the system at the Paris 'Mondial de l' Automobile' at the end of September and will be supplying this system integrating the STPC Atlas to major European car manufacturers for production start-up in 2001,” said Michel Rentier, Multimedia Systems Architect, Magneti Marelli SA.

Samples of the Consumer II and Elite will be available in November 2000, with volume production scheduled for December 2000, with the Atlas following two months later. Pricing for the three new SOCs will be under $38 for the Atlas, $33 for the Consumer-II, and $26 for the Elite (10,000 unit quantity).

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.