XMOS puts multi-core in mass market for under US$ 5 per core

Launches 2nd Generation XS1-L family of event-driven processors™

Sunnyvale, California and Bristol, UK -- June 24, 2009 --  XMOS has today launched its 2nd generation of event-driven processors, the XS1-L series, targeted at the mass electronics market with a sub $5 price point.  The XS1-L family provides embedded software developers with an energy-efficient, scalable, multi-core solution which enables them to build complete systems combining interface, DSP and control functions entirely in software.

Built on a 65-nanometer process, the XS1-L1 is sampling with customers now. It is available in easy-to-use packages and any number of devices can easily be linked together with XMOS links, scaling to larger systems, as required.  The dual-core XS1-L2 will sample in Q3 2009.

XMOS CEO, James Foster, said: “In the mass electronics market, the agility and speed delivered by XS1-L devices are important. It is widely recognized that developers are dissatisfied with the high NREs and 6 month turn-around associated with the ASICs they are currently using.  Implementing complete systems with FPGAs is just not cost-effective. Developers are crying out for a programmable solution at the right price point.  XMOS event-driven processors meet this market need, providing rapid programmability in C together with tools that are easy to use.”

Foster continued: “The launch of the XS1-L marks XMOS’ emergence as a major player in the global consumer electronics market.  We already have over 400 customers and demand for the XS1-L is strong especially in audio DSP, USB peripherals, networked LED displays and robotics.”

Each XS1-L XCore™ contains a 32-bit processor and operates up to 400MIPS. XCore power consumption is below 500µW in sleep mode and 20mW in standby with active power adding under 450µW/MHz.  The event-driven architecture, together with XMOS' development tools enables XCores to switch automatically between standby and active saving up to 90% of energy in low duty-cycle applications - no special programming is needed.

XS1-L devices are supported by tools available free of charge from the XMOS website. Because XMOS devices are programmed using high-level languages, existing reference designs based on the XS1-G can be migrated to the XS1-L by simply recompiling the software.

A new development kit, the XC-5, based on the XS1-L1 is also available.

Pricing and Availability

The XS1-L1 device is currently available in a 10x10 LQFP64 package (samples available now) and a 14x14 TQFP128 package (samples available in July) both priced under $5 for 10k unit quantities.