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National Semiconductor |
April 2000
Geode™ GXm Processor
Integrated x86 Solution with MMX Support
General Description
The National Semiconductor® Geode™ GXm processor
is an advanced 32-bit x86 compatible processor offering
high performance, fully accelerated 2D graphics, a 64-bit
synchronous DRAM controller and a PCI bus controller,
all on a single chip that is compatible with Intel’s MMX
technology.
The GXm processor core is a proven design that offers
competitive CPU performance. It has integer and floating
point execution units that are based on sixth-generation
technology. The integer core contains a single, six-stage
execution pipeline and offers advanced features such as
operand forwarding, branch target buffers, and extensive
write buffering. A 16 KB write-back L1 cache is accessed
in a unique fashion that eliminates pipeline stalls to fetch
operands that hit in the cache.
In addition to the advanced CPU features, the GXm pro-
cessor integrates a host of functions which are typically
implemented with external components. A full-function
graphics accelerator provides pixel processing and ren-
dering functions.
A separate on-chip video buffer enables >30 fps MPEG1
video playback when used together with the CS5530 I/O
companion chip. Graphics and system memory accesses
are supported by a tightly-coupled synchronous DRAM
(SDRAM) memory controller. This tightly coupled memory
subsystem eliminates the need for an external L2 cache.
The GXm processor includes Virtual System Architec-
ture® (VSA™ technology) enabling XpressGRAPHICS
and XpressAUDIO subsystems as well as generic emula-
tion capabilities. Software handler routines for the Xpress-
GRAPHICS and XpressAUDIO subsystems can be
included in the BIOS and provide compatible VGA and 16-
bit industry standard audio emulation. XpressAUDIO tech-
nology eliminates much of the hardware traditionally asso-
ciated with audio functions.
Geode™ GXm Processor Internal Block Diagram
Write-Back
Cache Unit
C-Bus
MMU
Integer
Unit
Internal Bus Interface Unit
X-Bus
FPU
Integrated
Functions
Graphics
Pipeline
Memory
Controller
Display
Controller
PCI
Controller
SDRAM Port
CS5530
(CRT/LCD TFT)
PCI Bus
National Semiconductor and Virtual System Architecture are registered trademarks of National Semiconductor Corporation.
Geode and VSA are trademarks of National Semiconductor Corporation.
For a complete listing of National Semiconductor trademarks, please visit www.national.com/trademarks.
© 2000 National Semiconductor Corporation
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Features
General Features
Packaged in:
— 352-Terminal Ball Grid Array (BGA) or
— 320-Pin Staggered Pin Grid Array (SPGA)
0.35-micron four layer metal CMOS process
Split rail design (3.3V I/O and 2.9V core)
32-Bit x86 Processor
Supports the MMX instruction set extension for the
acceleration of multimedia applications
Speeds offered up to 266 MHz
16 KB unified L1 cache
Integrated Floating Point Unit (FPU)
Re-entrant System Management Mode (SMM)
enhanced for VSA
PCI Controller
Fixed, rotating, hybrid, or ping-pong arbitration
Supports up to three PCI bus masters
Synchronous CPU and PCI bus clock frequency
Supports concurrency between PCI master and L1
cache
Power Management
Designed to support CS5530 power management
architecture
CPU only Suspend or full 3V Suspend supported:
— Clocks to CPU core stopped for CPU Suspend
— All on-chip clocks stopped for 3V Suspend
— Suspend refresh supported for 3V Suspend
Virtual Systems Architecture Technology
Architecture allows OS independent (software) virtual-
ization of hardware functions
Provides compatible high performance legacy VGA
core functionality
Note: GUI (Graphical User Interface) graphics accel-
eration is pure hardware.
Provides 16-bit XpressAUDIO subsystem
2D Graphics Accelerator
Graphics pipeline performance significantly increased
over previous generations by pipelining burst
reads/writes
Accelerates BitBLTs, line draw, text
Supports all 256 raster operations
Supports transparent BLTs
Runs at core clock frequency
Full VGA and VESA mode support
Special "Driver level” instructions utilize internal
scratchpad for enhanced performance
Display Controller
Video Generator (VG) improves memory efficiency for
display refresh with SDRAM
Supports a separate MPEG1 video buffer and data
path to enable video acceleration in the CS5530
Internal palette RAM for use with the CS5530
Direct interface to CS5530 for CRT and TFT flat panel
support which eliminates need for external RAMDAC
Hardware frame buffer compressor/decompressor
Hardware cursor
Supports up to 1280x1024x8 bpp and 1024x768x16
bpp
XpressRAM Subsystem
Memory control/interface directly from CPU
64-Bit wide memory bus
Support for:
— Two 168-pin unbuffered DIMMs
— Up to 16 open banks simultaneously
— Single or 16-byte reads (burst length of two)
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