SAN JOSE, Calif. — Fabless semiconductor startup Rapport Inc. has created an energy-efficient processor design featuring 1,024 eight-bit processing elements and a PowerPCTM core on a single chip, according to Power.org, an open community developing standards and applications around IBM's Power Architecture.
According to Power.org, the Kilocore1025, based on Rapport's Kilocore technology and Power Architecture, will process information at higher speeds and orders of magnitude lower power than existing processors.
The companies involved say the Kilocore1025 will enable users to view streaming live and high-definition video on a low-power, mobile device at five to 10 times the speed of existing processors.
According to Power.org, IBM and Rapport collaboration is expected to bring "disruptive solutions" to the low-power computing marketplace. Rapport will be contributing software solutions as well as Kilocore technology, and IBM will provide engineering services, foundry and ASIC technologies, Power.org said.
"Combining the outstanding Power Architecture with Kilocore will open up Power's extensive application base and developer community to the world of handheld, mobile and in-the-field computing," said Frank Sinton, Rapport president, in a statement.
Kilocore-based processors put hundreds or thousands of parallel processing elements together on small chips.
Power.org said other members making announcements around the architecture at the Embedded Systems Conference include:
Mercury Computer Systems Inc., which announced the 1U Dual Cell-Based Server, said to be the first available 1U server with Cell Technology.
Teak Technologies, which has developed a deterministic packet switching solution said to provide reliable service guarantees while managing congestion and maximizing bandwidth.
IBM, which announced low-power extensions to its PowerPC 970MP offering and power management features for the CPC945 bridge chip.
Power.org also said Tuesday that Applied Micro Circuits Corp. and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville have joined the organization.
Power.org is exhibiting at the Embedded Systems Conference at the McEnery Convention Center here April 4-6. Ten Power.org members have booths in the Power.org pavilion, the organization said.
