Summary of SIFIVE LAUNCHES THE WORLD’S SMALLEST COMMERCIAL 64-BIT EMBEDDED CORE
SiFive launched the S2 Core IP Series, a 64-bit processor designed for embedded systems with strict power and area constraints. This series complements existing 2, 3, 5, and 7 Core IP portfolios, offering an always-on low-power CPU option alongside high-performance cores for edge applications like voice-activated devices. The S2 core features enhanced security through domain separation and can be configured to extremely small sizes via SiFive's Core Designer.
Parts used in the S2 Core IP Series:
- S2 Core IP Series
- RISC-V processor IP
- 2 Series Core IP
- High-performance CPUs
- Always-on low power CPU
- Secure domains
- Non-secure domains
- SiFive Core Designer
RISC-V Leader brings unmatched advanced 64-bit Core IP capability to embedded space.
SiFive, the leading provider of commercial RISC-V processor IP, yesterday announced the launch of the S2 Core IP Series at the Linley Spring Processor Conference in Santa Clara. The S2 Core IP Series is a 64-bit addition to SiFive’s 2 Series Core IP and brings advanced features to SiFive’s smallest microcontrollers. The S2 Series further adds to SiFive’s extensive, vastly customizable, optimized, silicon-proven, embedded core IP portfolio, which comprises the 2, 3, 5, and 7 Core IP Series in E (32-bit) and S (64-bit) variants.
Edge SoCs face the diverse requirements of real-time latency, deterministic capability and stringent power constraints. The S2 enables SoCs to have an always-on low power CPU that can be combined with high-performance CPUs that switch on only when applications demand performance, such as in voice-activated smart devices. The 2 Series can be configured to be as small as just 13,500 gates (in RV32E form). The S2 is just half the size of a similarly configured S5 core. Security is enhanced by separation between secure and non-secure domains. This degree of flexibility is what is needed to meet the constraints in terms of power, area and real-time demands as well as the requirements in terms of performance of modern edge workloads and applications. The S2 Series will be available as a customizable Core IP Series as well as in the form of standard cores via SiFive’s Core Designer.
SiFive’s 64-bit S Cores bring their hallmark efficiency, configurability and silicon-proven Core IP expertise to 64-bit embedded architectures,
said Ted Speers, head of product architecture and planning at Microchip Technology’s Microsemi subsidiary and RISC-V Foundation board member.
The S Cores will enable innovation for the next generation of embedded compute.
Read more: SIFIVE LAUNCHES THE WORLD’S SMALLEST COMMERCIAL 64-BIT EMBEDDED CORE
- What is the primary purpose of the S2 Core IP Series?
The S2 enables SoCs to have an always-on low power CPU that can be combined with high-performance CPUs for demanding applications. - How small can the 2 Series be configured?
The 2 Series can be configured to be as small as just 13,500 gates in RV32E form. - Does the S2 core offer security enhancements?
Yes, security is enhanced by separation between secure and non-secure domains. - Can the S2 Series be customized?
The S2 Series will be available as a customizable Core IP Series as well as in the form of standard cores via SiFive's Core Designer. - How does the size of the S2 compare to the S5 core?
The S2 is just half the size of a similarly configured S5 core. - Which conference was the S2 Core IP Series announced at?
The launch was announced at the Linley Spring Processor Conference in Santa Clara. - What types of applications benefit from this technology?
Applications such as voice-activated smart devices benefit from combining always-on low power CPUs with high-performance CPUs.
