Following on the tremendous success of the 'C80, TI has introduced
the TMS320C82-the newest member of its 'C8x family
of ultra-high-performance DSPs.
"The 'C82 is a scaled-down version of the 'C80, TI's flagship DSP," said Rick Rinehart, TI's program manager for the 'C82. "It provides a breakthrough in DSP performance as well as price, and targets high-volume applications in which cost is an important issue."
With its refined architecture and high level of integration, the 'C82 surpasses the performance of six individual 16-bit DSPs, delivering the performance equivalent of more than 300 MIPS from standard 16-bit DSPs, all from a single device. Desktop videoconferencing and videophones, 3-D virtual reality graphics for games, and high-performance digital switching in cellular telephone base stations are just some of the applications that will benefit from the 'C82's performance and low cost.
"What videoconferencing and 3-D graphics have needed to really take off in volume is a high-performance engine with a price tag under $100, said Rinehart. "The 'C82 is just that engine."
The 'C82 integrates on the same silicon two advanced DSPs, a RISC master processor (MP) with a 100-MFLOP, IEEE-compatible floating-point unit, and enhanced on-chip memory capacity, and transfer control. OEMs will find this helps to lower chip count by replacing approximately ten processing units and support devices with a single chip. The device is fully programmable and offers maximum flexibility for product differentiation and rapid introduction of new products. Development tools created for the 'C80 are also compatible with the 'C82.
The 'C82, like the 'C80, uses a direct interface to a variety of memory types such as DRAM, synchronous DRAM, SRAM, and VRAM. This lowers total system cost by allowing lower-cost-per-bit memory.
"We've loaded the 'C82 with the kind of flexibility for which developers are used to paying high prices," Rinehart said. "With this product, it's part of the package. The 'C82's versatility allows OEMs to add features to existing systems with minimal hardware redesign and without the need for external components."
A powerful general-purpose DSP, the 'C82 meets a key challenge faced by most designers, particularly in digital switching applications-to pack the largest possible number of channels into the smallest possible space. Since this consolidation includes memory and interface chips as well as the processors themselves, the 'C82 allows OEMs to put more switched channels on the same board and more channels in the same box.
TI's 'C82 marketing manager Julie Gallagher reported the 'C82 will deliver the same performance as the 'C80 in targeted markets. "Some applications will still require the full power of the four DSPs in the 'C80, but the 'C82 will serve just as well for many high-volume applications and will provide, as a bonus, the ability for OEMs to offer finished product at a lower cost-desktop videoconferencing systems priced at less than $500, for example. The 'C82 represents a big step forward in affordable performance for multimedia systems, as well as other DSP applications."
Sampling for the 'C82 is planned for the second quarter of 1996, with volume production projected for the second half of 1996. Anticipated pricing is U.S. $82 in quantities of 25,000. Development tools are currently available.