PowerQUICC
Encyclopedia
PowerQUICC is the name for several Power Architecture
based microcontroller
s from Freescale Semiconductor
. They are built around one or more PowerPC
cores and the QUICC
Engine which is a separate RISC core specialized in such tasks such as I/O
, communications, ATM
, security acceleration, networking and USB. Many components are System-on-a-chip
designs tailor made for embedded
applications.
PowerQUICC processors are used in networking, automotive, industrial, storage, printing and consumer applications. Freescale are using PowerQUICC processors as a part of their mobileGT
platform.
Freescale also manufactures QUICC microcontroller
s based on the older 68k
technology.
There are four distinct lines of processors, mainly based on processing power.
The MPC8xx family was Motorola's first PowerPC
based embedded processors, suited for network processors and system-on-a-chip
devices. The core is an original implementation of the PowerPC specification. It is a single issue, four stage pipelined core with MMU and branch prediction unit with speeds up to 133 MHz. The MPC821 was introduced in 1995 together with MPC860 with a complete QUICC engine. A slimmed down version, MPC850 with reduced caches and IO ports came in 1997. The QUICC communications processor module (CPM) offloads networking tasks from the CPU, thus branding this family as PowerQUICC. All processors in the family differ in on-chip features like USB, serial, PCMCIA, ATM and Ethernet controllers and different amount of L1 caches ranging from 1 KiB up to 16 KiB.
MPC8xx – All PowerQUICC processors share this common naming scheme.
PowerQUICC II was introduced in 1998 and is the direct descendant of PowerPC 603e and the core also goes under the name 603e or G2. The processors still have 16/16 KiB instruction/data L1 caches, and are reaching frequencies up to 450 MHz. These communications processors are used in applications like VoIP
systems, telecom switches
, cellular base stations and DSLAMs
. The PowerQUICC II family of processors are phased out in favour for the more powerful PowerQUICC II Pro line. There's no plans for further development of this core.
MPC82xx – All PowerQUICC II processors share this common naming scheme.
core, an enhanced PowerPC 603e core, with 32/32 KiB instruction/data L1 caches. PowerQUICC II Pro is used as networking processors for routers, switch
es, printer
s, network-attached storage
, wireless access point
s and DSLAMs
. PowerQUICC II Pro processors reaches 677 MHz, and can include a multitude of embedded technologies like USB, PCI
, Ethernet
and security devices. They also use a newer QUICC Engine network offload engine instead of the CPM used in the original PowerQUICC I and PowerQUICC II series. The memory controller provides support for DDR and DDR2 SDRAMs.
MPC83xx – All PowerQUICC II Pro processors share this common naming scheme. A trailing "E" signifies that the processors have a built in encryption module. All devices with a 834x name lacks the quicc engine, while devices with a number like 836x has one.
, introduced in 2003. It has a dual issue, seven-stage pipeline with double precision FPUs, 32/32 KiB data and instruction L1 caches, multiple Gigabit Ethernet, PCI and PCIe, RapidIO
, DDR/DDR2 memory controllers, and security accelerators. Speeds ranges from 533 MHz up to 1.5 GHz. These processors target enterprise level networking and telecom applications, high end storage, printing and imaging. Some of the processors use the older CPM module for the handling network processing offload, some use the newer QUICC Engine (same as in PowerQUICC II Pro), and some do not have a CPM or QUICC Engine at all. Freescale's marketing department nevertheless brand all devices in the 85xx series as being "PowerQUICC III".
MPC85xx – All PowerQUICC III processors share this common naming scheme. A trailing "E" signifies that the processors have a built-in encryption module.
platform featuring all PowerPC e500
based processors, from single core, through multi-core, up to 32 cores. Freescale will keep manufacturing PowerQUICC processors in the foreseeable future for existing customers, but they will help facilitate the transition to QorIQ.
Power Architecture
Power Architecture is a broad term to describe similar RISC instruction sets for microprocessors developed and manufactured by such companies as IBM, Freescale, AMCC, Tundra and P.A. Semi...
based microcontroller
Microcontroller
A microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Program memory in the form of NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included on chip, as well as a typically small amount of RAM...
s from Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. is a producer and designer of embedded hardware, with 17 billion semiconductor chips in use around the world. The company focuses on the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets with its product portfolio including microprocessors, microcontrollers,...
. They are built around one or more PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
cores and the QUICC
QUICC
QUICC is the abbreviation of QUad Integrated Communications Controller. The original QUICC was the 68k-based Motorola 68360. It was followed by the PowerPC-based PowerQUICC, PowerQUICC II, PowerQUICC II+ and PowerQUICC III. Early chips used a separate RISC engine to control the serial interfaces....
Engine which is a separate RISC core specialized in such tasks such as I/O
Input/output
In computing, input/output, or I/O, refers to the communication between an information processing system , and the outside world, possibly a human, or another information processing system. Inputs are the signals or data received by the system, and outputs are the signals or data sent from it...
, communications, ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Asynchronous Transfer Mode is a standard switching technique designed to unify telecommunication and computer networks. It uses asynchronous time-division multiplexing, and it encodes data into small, fixed-sized cells. This differs from approaches such as the Internet Protocol or Ethernet that...
, security acceleration, networking and USB. Many components are System-on-a-chip
System-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
designs tailor made for embedded
Embedded system
An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal...
applications.
PowerQUICC processors are used in networking, automotive, industrial, storage, printing and consumer applications. Freescale are using PowerQUICC processors as a part of their mobileGT
MobileGT
The mobileGT name refers to both a computing platform and an alliance of vendors in the navigation, infotainment and telematics industries. It focuses on automotive, industrial and consumer electronics based on Power Architecture technology...
platform.
Freescale also manufactures QUICC microcontroller
QUICC
QUICC is the abbreviation of QUad Integrated Communications Controller. The original QUICC was the 68k-based Motorola 68360. It was followed by the PowerPC-based PowerQUICC, PowerQUICC II, PowerQUICC II+ and PowerQUICC III. Early chips used a separate RISC engine to control the serial interfaces....
s based on the older 68k
68k
The Motorola 680x0/m68000/68000 is a family of 32-bit CISC microprocessors. During the 1980s and early 1990s, they were popular in personal computers and workstations and were the primary competitors of Intel's x86 microprocessors...
technology.
There are four distinct lines of processors, mainly based on processing power.
PowerQUICC I
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
based embedded processors, suited for network processors and system-on-a-chip
System-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
devices. The core is an original implementation of the PowerPC specification. It is a single issue, four stage pipelined core with MMU and branch prediction unit with speeds up to 133 MHz. The MPC821 was introduced in 1995 together with MPC860 with a complete QUICC engine. A slimmed down version, MPC850 with reduced caches and IO ports came in 1997. The QUICC communications processor module (CPM) offloads networking tasks from the CPU, thus branding this family as PowerQUICC. All processors in the family differ in on-chip features like USB, serial, PCMCIA, ATM and Ethernet controllers and different amount of L1 caches ranging from 1 KiB up to 16 KiB.
MPC8xx – All PowerQUICC processors share this common naming scheme.
- MPC821 – The first embedded PowerPC processor, with integrated CPM, but no FPU and came in speeds up to 50 MHz
- MPC860 - The first PowerPC with fully integrated QUICC engine, with speeds up to 80 MHz
- MPC850 - A low-cost, stripped MPC860 with integrated USB and Ethernet. Speeds up to 50 MHz
PowerQUICC II
Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks, such as the Internet...
systems, telecom switches
Telephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
, cellular base stations and DSLAMs
Digital subscriber line access multiplexer
A digital subscriber line access multiplexer is a network device, located in the telephone exchanges of the telecommunications operators. It connects multiple customer digital subscriber line interfaces to a high-speed digital communications channel using multiplexing techniques...
. The PowerQUICC II family of processors are phased out in favour for the more powerful PowerQUICC II Pro line. There's no plans for further development of this core.
MPC82xx – All PowerQUICC II processors share this common naming scheme.
PowerQUICC II Pro
Introduced in 2004, based on the e300PowerPC e300
The PowerPC e300 is a family of 32-bit Power Architecture microprocessor cores developed by Freescale for primary use in system-on-a-chip designs with speed ranging up to 800 MHz, thus making them ideal for embedded applications....
core, an enhanced PowerPC 603e core, with 32/32 KiB instruction/data L1 caches. PowerQUICC II Pro is used as networking processors for routers, switch
Network switch
A network switch or switching hub is a computer networking device that connects network segments.The term commonly refers to a multi-port network bridge that processes and routes data at the data link layer of the OSI model...
es, printer
Computer printer
In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a text or graphics of documents stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies. Many printers are primarily used as local peripherals, and are attached by a printer cable or, in most new printers, a...
s, network-attached storage
Network-attached storage
Network-attached storage is file-level computer data storage connected to a computer network providing data access to heterogeneous clients. NAS not only operates as a file server, but is specialized for this task either by its hardware, software, or configuration of those elements...
, wireless access point
Wireless access point
In computer networking, a wireless access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards...
s and DSLAMs
Digital subscriber line access multiplexer
A digital subscriber line access multiplexer is a network device, located in the telephone exchanges of the telecommunications operators. It connects multiple customer digital subscriber line interfaces to a high-speed digital communications channel using multiplexing techniques...
. PowerQUICC II Pro processors reaches 677 MHz, and can include a multitude of embedded technologies like USB, PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect
Conventional PCI is a computer bus for attaching hardware devices in a computer...
, Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
and security devices. They also use a newer QUICC Engine network offload engine instead of the CPM used in the original PowerQUICC I and PowerQUICC II series. The memory controller provides support for DDR and DDR2 SDRAMs.
MPC83xx – All PowerQUICC II Pro processors share this common naming scheme. A trailing "E" signifies that the processors have a built in encryption module. All devices with a 834x name lacks the quicc engine, while devices with a number like 836x has one.
- MPC8313E
- MPC8314E
- MPC8315E
- MPC8321E - low end for easy transition from MPC8xx family
- MPC8343E - used in the "Killer NICKiller NICThe Killer NIC , from Bigfoot Networks, is designed to circumvent the Microsoft Windows TCP/IP stack, and handle processing on the card via a dedicated Network Processing Unit. Most standard NIC's are host based, and make use of the primary CPU. It is claimed that the Killer NIC is capable of...
" network cardNetwork cardA network interface controller is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network....
. - MPC8347E
- MPC8349E
- MPC8358E
- MPC8360E
PowerQUICC III
The PowerQUICC III processors are based on a 32-bit Power ISA v.2.03 core called e500PowerPC e500
The PowerPC e500 is a 32-bit Power Architecture-based microprocessor core from Freescale Semiconductor. The core is compatible with the older PowerPC Book E specification as well as the Power ISA v.2.03. It has a dual issue, seven-stage pipeline with FPUs , 32/32 KiB data and instruction L1 caches...
, introduced in 2003. It has a dual issue, seven-stage pipeline with double precision FPUs, 32/32 KiB data and instruction L1 caches, multiple Gigabit Ethernet, PCI and PCIe, RapidIO
RapidIO
The RapidIO architecture is a high-performance packet-switched, interconnect technology for interconnecting chips on a circuit board, and also circuit boards to each other using a backplane...
, DDR/DDR2 memory controllers, and security accelerators. Speeds ranges from 533 MHz up to 1.5 GHz. These processors target enterprise level networking and telecom applications, high end storage, printing and imaging. Some of the processors use the older CPM module for the handling network processing offload, some use the newer QUICC Engine (same as in PowerQUICC II Pro), and some do not have a CPM or QUICC Engine at all. Freescale's marketing department nevertheless brand all devices in the 85xx series as being "PowerQUICC III".
MPC85xx – All PowerQUICC III processors share this common naming scheme. A trailing "E" signifies that the processors have a built-in encryption module.
- MPC8540 – The world's first RapidIORapidIOThe RapidIO architecture is a high-performance packet-switched, interconnect technology for interconnecting chips on a circuit board, and also circuit boards to each other using a backplane...
enabled host processor. Includes dual Gigabit Ethernet controllers, ideal for routers. Speeds from 600 MHz to 1 GHz. - MPC8548/47/43/41(E) - A family of integrated devices included PCI Express and RapidIO, along with a single e500 cores. Each lower number has less abilities than its higher-numbered siblings.
- MPC8544 - Similar to the 8548, but produced in a cost-saving 90 nm process and with some differences in the actual feature set.
- MPC8560 - Similar to the 8540, this was the first PQ III device launched. It includes a CPM along with the e500 core.
- MPC8568/68E/67/67E - Uses the QUICC Engine instead of a CPM, the 8567 has a reduced set of peripheral units.
- MPC8569E - e500v2 core frequency of 1.33 GHz, 45 nm fabrication process, enhanced QUICC engine, rich set of peripherals and low power requirements.http://www.freescale.com/files/32bit/doc/prod_brief/MPC8569EPB.pdf?fpsp=1&WT_TYPE=Product%20Briefs&WT_VENDOR=FREESCALE&WT_FILE_FORMAT=pdf&WT_ASSET=Documentation
- MPC8572E – Uses dual e500 cores with speed up to 1.5 GHz. Used in high end application-aware networking equipment like firewallsFirewall (computing)A firewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny network transmissions based upon a set of rules and is frequently used to protect networks from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communications to pass....
and antivirus devices (from Kaspersky LabKaspersky LabKaspersky Lab is a Russian computer security company, co-founded by Natalia Kaspersky and Eugene Kaspersky in 1997, offering anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, and anti-intrusion products...
).
Future
PowerQUICC will cease development in favor of the software-compatible QorIQQorIQ
QorIQ is a brand of Power Architecture-based communications microprocessors from Freescale. It is the evolutionary step from the PowerQUICC platform and will be built around one or more Power Architecture e500mc cores and come in five different product platforms, P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5, segmented...
platform featuring all PowerPC e500
PowerPC e500
The PowerPC e500 is a 32-bit Power Architecture-based microprocessor core from Freescale Semiconductor. The core is compatible with the older PowerPC Book E specification as well as the Power ISA v.2.03. It has a dual issue, seven-stage pipeline with FPUs , 32/32 KiB data and instruction L1 caches...
based processors, from single core, through multi-core, up to 32 cores. Freescale will keep manufacturing PowerQUICC processors in the foreseeable future for existing customers, but they will help facilitate the transition to QorIQ.
See also
- Power ArchitecturePower ArchitecturePower Architecture is a broad term to describe similar RISC instruction sets for microprocessors developed and manufactured by such companies as IBM, Freescale, AMCC, Tundra and P.A. Semi...
- PowerPC 603e/G2
- PowerPC e300PowerPC e300The PowerPC e300 is a family of 32-bit Power Architecture microprocessor cores developed by Freescale for primary use in system-on-a-chip designs with speed ranging up to 800 MHz, thus making them ideal for embedded applications....
- PowerPC e500PowerPC e500The PowerPC e500 is a 32-bit Power Architecture-based microprocessor core from Freescale Semiconductor. The core is compatible with the older PowerPC Book E specification as well as the Power ISA v.2.03. It has a dual issue, seven-stage pipeline with FPUs , 32/32 KiB data and instruction L1 caches...
- QorIQQorIQQorIQ is a brand of Power Architecture-based communications microprocessors from Freescale. It is the evolutionary step from the PowerQUICC platform and will be built around one or more Power Architecture e500mc cores and come in five different product platforms, P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5, segmented...