Processor lowers cost of Gigabit Ethernet

by Robert Cravotta, Technical Editor -- 11/17/2006

Freescale's MPC8313E PowerQuicc II Pro processor delivers Gigabit Ethernet with integrated security encryption blocks for as low as $15 (10,000). It includes a dual 10-, 100, 1000-Gbps Ethernet MAC (multiply/accumulate) unit with dual MII (media-independent interface), RGMII (reduced-Gigabit-MII), RTBI (reduced 10-bit interface), RMII (reduced MII), and SGMII (serial-Gigabit MII), and it supports the IEEE 1588 timing protocol. The Power Architecture e300 core operates at clock rates as high as 400 MHz. The device includes an MMU (memory-management unit); USB 2.0 controller with an on-chip, 480-Mbps PHY (physical layer) with host and client support; a 32-bit PCI controller; and a 32-bit, 333-MHz DDR1/DDR2 (double-data-rate 2) memory controller. The integrated security engine provides hardware acceleration for the DES (Data Encryption Standard), 3DES (Triple DES), AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm), and MD (Message Digest)-5 algorithms.

The MPC8313E evaluation board sells for $299. It includes a Linux 2.6 BSP with the CodeWarrior-based development tools that include a six-month evaluation license with no code-size restrictions. The Linux 2.6 BSP includes drivers for SATA, a four-port GigESwitch from Vitesse, USB, IEEE1588, and power management. The evaluation-board reference design uses the MPC8313E, which includes a CPE (customer-premises-equipment) form-factor board, schematic, and layout.

Initial samples of the MPC8313E are available now, and general samples should debut in the first quarter of 2007 and general availability scheduled for the second quarter. The 516-pin PBGA device uses Freescale's 90-nm process technology, and it supports 1V core operation and 1.8, 2.5, 3.3V I/O operation. The MPC8313E supports ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) standards with power-management features, such as smart wake-up and standby power of less than 300 mW. The SC8311, an MPC8313 derivative, targets laser printers that must meet the emerging power regulations in the European and Japanese markets.

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