Tundra Introduces Multi-Standard RapidIO Evaluation Platform with Texas Instruments and Altera
(Technology News, 15 Aug 2008 )
Tundra Semiconductor has introduced an evaluation platform centered on its Tsi620 multi-standard RapidIO Switch. In addition to the Tundra Tsi620, the multi-platform evaluation platform uses Texas Instruments (TI) TMS320TCI6487 high performance multi-core DSP and an Altera Stratix III FPGA to enable prototyping and, ultimately, cost reduction in applications such as high performance wireless and video processing, medical imaging and military signal-processing solutions.
The platform allows customers to use the RapidIO protocol for DSP or processor aggregation, while leveraging the Tsi620's hardware bridging to low cost PCI-enabled processors. The platform offers communication with a variety of cost competitive PCI-enabled microprocessors through a PMC connector, providing additional cost saving opportunities. TI's 3GHz embedded DSP delivers exceptional performance in computationally challenging applications. On the evaluation platform, the Tsi620 interfaces with Altera's Stratix III FPGA to leverage RapidIO over XGMII. This results in low latency while leveraging the RapidIO protocol and allows customers to access RapidIO processor clusters from an FPGA without SerDes. The complete solution allows customers to reduce their time-to-market, and the bill-of-materials (BOM) in end applications by over $100 compared to other solutions.
System OEMs can leverage the flexibility of the platform as a standalone evaluation board or in a MicroTCA chassis where RapidIO is running across the backplane. Designers can now go to market faster using this production-ready tool, to speed development and testing of application software and firmware.
