Faraday Implements 640 MHz ARM926EJ-S Hard Core Using UMC 90 nm Process Technology

Experienced back-end capability enables the performance-driven hard core to remain a minimal area and low power consumption simultaneously

Hsinchu, Taiwan, and Sunnyvale, California -- September 5, 2007 -- Faraday Technology Corporation  today announced the launch of its ultra high performance ARM926EJ-S™ hard core using UMC 90 nm process. Faraday's ARM926EJ-S™ hard core runs at 400 MHz under the worst case condition and could reach ultra high clock speed up to 640 MHz in a typical case with relatively low power consumption and small area. Currently the 90 nm hard core is ready, and its test chips will be available in October, 2007.

Nowadays ARM926EJ™ is among the most popular hard cores built in a variety of embedded applications such as DSCs, PMPs, GPS, and mobile phones. On the other hand, following the trend toward more functions and features integrated into the SoC of the multi-functional consumer device, there is a growing demand for high-performance ARM926EJ™ based on the diverse application requirements and the exponentially increasing software complexity. To fulfill customers' demand for higher performance hard cores using the leading foundry technology, Faraday implements its ARM926EJ™ hard core using the UMC 90 nm foundry process with significant technological breakthroughs in power and performance.

"We are very excited about the launch of the ARM926EJ™ hard core using 90 nm process," said Charlie Cheng , V ice P resident of Marketing at Faraday Technology. "Besides handheld devices, we also see the opportunities in high-performance embedded markets such as digital home or networking-related applications. Taking advantage of a powerful CPU, massive logic computing and data processing can execute on the SoC with sophisticated algorithms and various middleware systems. That is the reason why we develop the high-performance ARM926EJ hard core, which fulfills customers' demands in this deep submicron era."

Hard core implementation plays a very important role in an ASIC design project. Providing the best performance/area/power features, Faraday's ARM926EJ™ can assist customers in reducing development risks and speed up time to market with the most competitive advantage. Due to its successful SoC developing experiences in the past years, Faraday's well-proven capabilities include its well versed synthesis skill, optimized physical designs, layout expertise and its proprietary PowerCAD technology to minimize power dissipation. This high-performance hard core can achieve 400 MHz for the worst case and the clock speed up to 640 MHz for the typical case with relatively low power consumption and a small area.

Availability

The 90 nm ARM926EJ-S™ hard core is available now, and its test chips are expected to be available in October, 2007.

About Faraday Technology Corporation

Faraday Technology Corporation is a leading silicon IP and fabless ASIC vendor. The company's broad silicon IP portfolio includes 32-bit RISC CPUs, DSPs, MPEG4, H.264, PHYs/Controllers for USB 2.0, 10/100 Ethernet, Serial ATA, PCI Express, Cell Library and Memory Compiler. With more than 750 employees and 2006 revenue of US$171 million, Faraday is one of the largest fabless ASIC companies in the Asia-Pacific region, and it also has a significant presence in other world-wide markets. Headquartered in Taiwan , Faraday has service and support offices around the world, including the U.S. , Japan , Europe, and China . For more information, please visit : www.faraday-tech.com .