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Cortex M1, Cortex R4 - comparison

Mullai Thiagu
Note: This was originally posted on 25th September 2009 at http://forums.arm.com

Hi all,

Iam studyng the features supported by Cortex M1 and Cortex R4 soft processors. I have created a table for this and there are some features which i could not find.... it would be helpful if you guys can fill the missing features
Parents

  • Features    
                                            
    1. Primary FPGA Target
    Cortex-M1 deliverables supports Altera, Actel, Xilinx FPGA (for licensed customers).
    Current available FPGA kits include Altera version and Actel version.

    Cortex-R4 does not have FPGA kit as a product, but ARM customers can get FPGA prototype platform for Cortex-R4.

    2. Max Core Frequency

    Cortex-M1 : It depends : What FPGA? Which tools? Altera web site say using Cyclone III speed grade -6 you can get over 100MHz.  Internal testing done shown it can operate at over 180MHz
    You can get even higher speed if you are using newer Stratrix / Virtex devices.

    Cortex-R4 : It is not optimized for FPGA.  For ASIC version you can get it to 600MHz with hardened version (Cortex-R4X)

    3. FPGA Logic Cells

    Cortex-M1:This depends on RTL options, it shown as 2600 Logic elements in Altera website

    4. Hardware Multipliers
    Cortex-M1 : Yes
    Cortex-R4 : Yes

    5. Hardware Dividers
    Cortex-M1 : No
    Cortex-R4 : Yes

    6. Instruction Cache Size
    Cortex-M1 : No cache, TCM only (up to 1MB).
    Cortex-R4 : Depends on configuration, TCM also depends on configuration

    7. Data Cache Size
    Cortex-M1 : No cache, TCM only (up to 1MB)
    Cortex-R4 : Depends on configuration, TCM also depends on configuration

    8. Number of ports for Instruction TCM / TCM-A (for Cortex R4)
    64-bit TCM interface

    9. Number of ports for Data TCM / TCM-B (for Cortex R4)
    2 x 64-bit TCM interface

    10. Burst Size Setting for Cache
    Cortex-R4 : Programmable by CP15

    11. Exception Checking (Divsion error)
    Cortex-R4 : Yes

    12. MPU present/absent
    Cortex-M1 : No
    Cortex-R4 : Yes

    13. MMU present/absent
    Cortex-M1 : No
    Cortex-R4 : No

    14. Maximum number of Interrupts supported
    Cortex-M1 : 32
    Cortex-R4 : Depends on interrupt controller

    15. Options to select JTAG debug level - present/absent
    Cortex-M1 : Depends on which FPGA development you are using (e.g. with SOPC builder debug is carried out via the USB blaster connection)
    Cortex-R4 : Depends on which debug port component you connected it to.

    16. Option to set Custom instructions - present/absent
    Cortex-M1 : No
    Cortex-R4 : No

    17. Option to Set memory for Exception Vector - present/absent
    Cortex-M1 :Vector table at address 0x0 (can be AHB or TCM)
    Cortex-R4 : Vector table at address 0x0 or VIC interface

    18. Is a separate FPGA kit (evaluation version) available for Cyclone III FPGA
    Cortex-M1 only : FPGA kit available (not sure about evaluation)

    19. If Yes, does the kit consist of:
    Cortex-M1 only
         Soft Core : Yes
         Software development environment : Yes
         Simulation support (for full version) : You need to get ask distributor about this

    20. Tool for Software development
    Cortex-M1 kit include ARM RealView Microcontroller Development Kit

    21. AMBA Bus Support - present/absent
    Cortex-M1 for Actel use AMBA
    Cortex-M1 for Altera use Avalon
    Cortex-R4 use AMBA (AXI)

    Hi Joseph,

      thanks for ur reply.. it was really informative...

      Let me elaborate some more on my requirement...

    I need to build a system using Cortex M1 with AMBA bus in Altera tool. Next, i need to connect some peripherals like UART to AMBA bus.

    In this regard, it would be helpful if some one can provide clarification for queries below:

    1. Cortex M1 is available from ARM / as Cortex FPGA Evaluation Kit (from Arrow). Is this correct?

    2. How to get AMBA bus core components like AHB, APB and AHB-to-APB bridge ?

    3. I saw AMBA Design Kit and AMBA Designer tools provided by ARM. These are on-chip fabric for SoC systems. Is it possible to use AMBA Design kit (ADK) and generate AHB, APB and AHB-to-APB bridge components for Altera FPGAs?

    4. What is the difference between AMBA Design Kit(ADK) and AMBA Designer tools?

    5. Which of above tool (ADK / AMBA Designer ) can be used for generating AMBA components compatible with Cortex M1 processor to integrate and test systems in FPGA?

    6. Like Cortex M1 evaluation version, is there any evaluation version to use ADK / AMBA Designer ? If yes please give links for the same.


    Thanks in advance for the valuable informations you will share
Reply

  • Features    
                                            
    1. Primary FPGA Target
    Cortex-M1 deliverables supports Altera, Actel, Xilinx FPGA (for licensed customers).
    Current available FPGA kits include Altera version and Actel version.

    Cortex-R4 does not have FPGA kit as a product, but ARM customers can get FPGA prototype platform for Cortex-R4.

    2. Max Core Frequency

    Cortex-M1 : It depends : What FPGA? Which tools? Altera web site say using Cyclone III speed grade -6 you can get over 100MHz.  Internal testing done shown it can operate at over 180MHz
    You can get even higher speed if you are using newer Stratrix / Virtex devices.

    Cortex-R4 : It is not optimized for FPGA.  For ASIC version you can get it to 600MHz with hardened version (Cortex-R4X)

    3. FPGA Logic Cells

    Cortex-M1:This depends on RTL options, it shown as 2600 Logic elements in Altera website

    4. Hardware Multipliers
    Cortex-M1 : Yes
    Cortex-R4 : Yes

    5. Hardware Dividers
    Cortex-M1 : No
    Cortex-R4 : Yes

    6. Instruction Cache Size
    Cortex-M1 : No cache, TCM only (up to 1MB).
    Cortex-R4 : Depends on configuration, TCM also depends on configuration

    7. Data Cache Size
    Cortex-M1 : No cache, TCM only (up to 1MB)
    Cortex-R4 : Depends on configuration, TCM also depends on configuration

    8. Number of ports for Instruction TCM / TCM-A (for Cortex R4)
    64-bit TCM interface

    9. Number of ports for Data TCM / TCM-B (for Cortex R4)
    2 x 64-bit TCM interface

    10. Burst Size Setting for Cache
    Cortex-R4 : Programmable by CP15

    11. Exception Checking (Divsion error)
    Cortex-R4 : Yes

    12. MPU present/absent
    Cortex-M1 : No
    Cortex-R4 : Yes

    13. MMU present/absent
    Cortex-M1 : No
    Cortex-R4 : No

    14. Maximum number of Interrupts supported
    Cortex-M1 : 32
    Cortex-R4 : Depends on interrupt controller

    15. Options to select JTAG debug level - present/absent
    Cortex-M1 : Depends on which FPGA development you are using (e.g. with SOPC builder debug is carried out via the USB blaster connection)
    Cortex-R4 : Depends on which debug port component you connected it to.

    16. Option to set Custom instructions - present/absent
    Cortex-M1 : No
    Cortex-R4 : No

    17. Option to Set memory for Exception Vector - present/absent
    Cortex-M1 :Vector table at address 0x0 (can be AHB or TCM)
    Cortex-R4 : Vector table at address 0x0 or VIC interface

    18. Is a separate FPGA kit (evaluation version) available for Cyclone III FPGA
    Cortex-M1 only : FPGA kit available (not sure about evaluation)

    19. If Yes, does the kit consist of:
    Cortex-M1 only
         Soft Core : Yes
         Software development environment : Yes
         Simulation support (for full version) : You need to get ask distributor about this

    20. Tool for Software development
    Cortex-M1 kit include ARM RealView Microcontroller Development Kit

    21. AMBA Bus Support - present/absent
    Cortex-M1 for Actel use AMBA
    Cortex-M1 for Altera use Avalon
    Cortex-R4 use AMBA (AXI)

    Hi Joseph,

      thanks for ur reply.. it was really informative...

      Let me elaborate some more on my requirement...

    I need to build a system using Cortex M1 with AMBA bus in Altera tool. Next, i need to connect some peripherals like UART to AMBA bus.

    In this regard, it would be helpful if some one can provide clarification for queries below:

    1. Cortex M1 is available from ARM / as Cortex FPGA Evaluation Kit (from Arrow). Is this correct?

    2. How to get AMBA bus core components like AHB, APB and AHB-to-APB bridge ?

    3. I saw AMBA Design Kit and AMBA Designer tools provided by ARM. These are on-chip fabric for SoC systems. Is it possible to use AMBA Design kit (ADK) and generate AHB, APB and AHB-to-APB bridge components for Altera FPGAs?

    4. What is the difference between AMBA Design Kit(ADK) and AMBA Designer tools?

    5. Which of above tool (ADK / AMBA Designer ) can be used for generating AMBA components compatible with Cortex M1 processor to integrate and test systems in FPGA?

    6. Like Cortex M1 evaluation version, is there any evaluation version to use ADK / AMBA Designer ? If yes please give links for the same.


    Thanks in advance for the valuable informations you will share
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