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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?
    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)
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?
    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)
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