See a summary of these results or obtain a report containing details.

Summaries of results for the ARM1136 and ARM1176 on the BDTI DSP Kernel Benchmarks and for the ARM1176 on the BDTI Video Decoder Benchmarks are available. Or, obtain a report containing detailed results.

ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E

BDTI’s Inside report on the ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E includes detailed analysis and benchmark results for these processor cores on the BDTI DSP Kernel Benchmarks™. A complete description of Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E, with ordering instructions, follows.

 

---

 

Inside the
ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E

A BDTI Technical Evaluation

The first independent, in-depth report to evaluate the ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E processor cores. Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E provides an in-depth, independent technical analysis and evaluation of the DSP capabilities of these cores, examining key features, including data paths, execution units, memory architectures, programming models, and other attributes.

The performance of the ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E is compared to that of key competitors, with benchmark results analyzed in terms of underlying architectural strengths and weaknesses.

This report will be of value to systems and chip designers, hardware and software engineers, processor designers, engineering managers, and product marketing managers.

Like all of the reports in the Inside series, Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E:

• Is based on hands-on programming experience
• Includes industry-standard BDTI Benchmark™ results
• Identifies processor strengths and weaknesses
• Compares performance to that of key competitors
• Provides timely information from the established leader in DSP technology analysis

Report includes analysis of the following:

• Architecture
• Data path
• Memory system
• Addressing
• Pipeline
• Instruction set
• Execution control
• Peripherals
• On-chip debugging support
• Power consumption and management
• Cost
• Fabrication details
• Development tools
• Applications support
• Advantages
• Disadvantages

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. About the Authors
3. Selecting and Using Processor Cores
4. The ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E: Analysis
5. Competitors
   • Hitachi SH3-DSP
   • Motorola DSP5685x
   • Texas Instruments TMS320C54xx
   • Texas Instruments TMS320C55xx
6. Benchmark Analysis
7. Conclusion
8. Appendix: BDTI Benchmark™; results for the ARM7, ARM9, ARM9E, and competitors

Excerpts from BDTI's analysis:

While the ARMxTDMI is a general-purpose RISC architecture, it is frequently used in applications demanding low-to-moderate DSP performance. ARM's inclusion of enhanced DSP functionality with the ARM9E is in response to growing customer demand for greater signal processing capabilities from ARM cores. Adding DSP functionality to an embedded general-purpose processor can potentially eliminate the need for a separate DSP. This can reduce overall system complexity and cost, allow engineers to write software for just one processor, and offer lower power consumption.

The lack of parallel move support is not typically considered a drawback in general-purpose processors. However, the lack of parallel move support in the DSP-enhanced ARM9E (as well as the ARMx in general) limits its ability to keep its execution units supplied with operands. To compensate, typical DSP program loops on the ARM9E must be unrolled, which may greatly increase program memory requirements.

BDTI's qualitative analysis includes numerous similar insights into the ARM cores, information invaluable to anyone interested in adopting these cores in their designs.

Sample benchmark results

BDTI's Real Block FIR Filter Benchmark - Execution Time in microseconds.
(lower is faster)

Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E includes 100 pages of benchmark data, in tables and graphs, showing results on each of the 12 BDTI DSP Kernel Benchmarks for the ARM cores and competitors.

BDTI's Inside Series

Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E is one of many reports in BDTI's series of focused technical analyses of single processors. The series also includes:

The BDTI DSP Kernel Benchmarks™

The analysis in Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E is based on the results of the BDTI DSP Kernel Benchmarks, an industry-standard suite of DSP algorithm kernels. Each benchmark is painstakingly written and optimized in native assembly language following a strict specification. This approach, applied by BDTI to a vast range of processors, allows for a fair and evenhanded evaluation of the capabilities of processor architectures.

For more information on BDTI's processor benchmarking methodology, read BDTI's white paper on the subject, Evaluating DSP Processor Performance, or contact BDTI at info@bdti.com.

Pricing and Ordering Information for ARM Benchmarks

ARM Cortex-A8 Benchmark Results

Printed copies of Benchmark Results for the ARM Cortex-A8:

• First copy: $2,500
• Additional copies: $1,000 each

To order benchmark results for the ARM Cortex-A8, download an order form in HTML or PDF, complete and return it to BDTI by mail or fax.

Electronic copies of Benchmark Results for the ARM Cortex-A8:
An electronic version of benchmark results for the ARM Cortex-A8 is available in PDF format under an enterprise license. Contact BDTI for details.

ARM ARM1136 and ARM1176 Benchmark Results

Printed copies of Benchmark Results for the ARM ARM1136 and ARM1176:

• First copy: $1,000
• Additional copies: $500 each

To order benchmark results for the ARM ARM1136 and ARM1176, download an order form in HTML or PDF, complete and return it to BDTI by mail or fax.

Electronic copies of Benchmark Results for the ARM ARM1136 and ARM1176:
An electronic version of benchmark results for the ARM ARM1136 and ARM1176 is available in PDF format under an enterprise license. Contact BDTI for details.

Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E

Printed copies of Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E:

• First copy: $1,500
• Additional copies: $650 each

To order Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, ARM9E, download an order form in HTML or PDF, complete and return it to BDTI by mail or fax.

Electronic copies of Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E:
An electronic version of Inside the ARM ARM7, ARM9, and ARM9E is available in PDF format under an enterprise license. Contact BDTI for details.

Discounts and Shipping Information

Discounts are available on volume orders. Contact BDTI for details. California orders must add appropriate sales tax. All sales are final and are subject to BDTI's Terms and Conditions of Sale.

Printed reports are shipped via FedEx 2-Day service. International shipments are sent via FedEx International Priority Service. No charge for shipping within the U.S. International shipping is $75.
International customers must complete and return an Export Restriction Acknowledgement.

Orders may be placed with payment by check, purchase order, or credit card.