Case Studies

Case Study—Benchmarks for Tools, Software Libraries, and More

System developers often rely on processor benchmarks to gauge system performance. However, the processor is just one of many components that determines overall performance. Fully understanding system performance requires careful analysis of many other elements, such as code-generation tools and third-party software libraries. Unfortunately, a host of factors can confound attempts to analyze these components. For example, it is difficult to prevent variations in programmer skill and style Read more...

Case Study: Measuring Multimedia Performance

At first glance, measuring processor performance on multimedia applications can seem straightforward. Many multimedia applications are based on published standards and widely available software. For example, MPEG-4 video decompression software is available for most popular processors. Because such software is often readily available, measuring multimedia performance may seem to be a simple matter of checking the processor vendor's published performance data for the relevant software modules Read more...

Case Study: Developing Performance Claims that Customers Trust

Processor vendors hoping to penetrate new signal processing applications face several challenges. Key among them is convincing prospective customers that the processor will perform well in the target application. Customers are often reluctant to accept vendors’ performance projections, particularly if key application software components have not yet been fully implemented. It’s possible to predict application performance based on analysis of benchmark results, but even then, customers are Read more...

Case Study: Managing Offshore Software Development

Increasingly, processor vendors need to deliver extensive software libraries optimized for their processors. In the realm of signal processing applications, this software may include large libraries of building-block functions (filters, transforms, etc.), application modules (such as audio or video compression algorithms), and complete end-product reference designs. To meet these software needs, many processor vendors are attracted to offshore software development firms due to their low Read more...

Case Study: Optimizing Presentations, Products, and Plans

Top-notch marketing presentations and press briefings are key to convincing prospective customers, partners, editors, and investors that a product is attractive and viable. Effective presentations combine clear, convincing technical information with a compelling marketing message—a difficult combination to achieve. And even accurate, convincing presentations can run into trouble if the presenter isn’t prepared for tough questions. The best way to ensure that a presentation is effective Read more...

Case Study: Designing a Processor for DSP

As digital signal processing finds its way into an ever-broader range of applications, processors that were not designed with signal-processing applications in mind are often called upon to perform substantial signal-processing tasks. At the same time, DSP processors are taking on new types of tasks—for example, processors designed for audio applications often must handle video as well. Often, the best way for a processor vendor to meet these expanding, evolving signal processing requirements Read more...

Case Study—Benchmarks for Tools, Software Libraries, and More

System developers often rely on processor benchmarks to gauge system performance. However, the processor is just one of many components that determines overall performance. Fully understanding system performance requires careful analysis of many other elements, such as code-generation tools and third-party software libraries.   Unfortunately, a host of factors can confound attempts to analyze these components. For example, it is difficult to prevent variations in programmer skill and style Read more...

Case Study—Measuring Processor Energy Consumption

Energy consumption is a chief concern for many digital signal processing applications, especially for portable applications where battery life is paramount. In these applications, an accurate understanding of energy consumption is critical to processor selection and to system design. Unfortunately, many obstacles hinder comparisons of processors' energy consumption. One key problem is that vendors usually report power consumption, not energy consumption. Calculating energy consumption— Read more...

Case Study—Checking Out the Competition

Charting a processor roadmap is a difficult task. To set a successful course for a processor family, a processor developer must predict trends in the processor’s target applications as well as developments in competing processor families. The developer must then determine how to evolve its offerings in order to respond to these expected changes. For example, remaining competitive may require a carefully balanced mix of lowering prices, raising clock speeds, and adding architectural features Read more...

Case Study—Measuring Multimedia Performance

At first glance, measuring processor performance on multimedia applications can seem straightforward. Many multimedia applications are based on published standards and widely available software. For example, MPEG-4 video decompression software is available for most popular processors. Because such software is often readily available, measuring multimedia performance may seem to be a simple matter of checking the processor vendor’s published performance data for the relevant software modules Read more...