Marvell Microprocessor Architecture

The Marvell micro-architecture is at the heart of embedded and other solutions that power today’s digital lifestyle: from the enterprise to the home to the consumer. Featured in applications such as hard disk drives, storage controllers, routers, switches, mobile GPS, smartphones, and portable media players, Marvell’s unique, ARM-compliant CPU architecture powers a vast range of devices. Based on the ARM instruction set, the Marvell micro-architecture is optimized to meet the demands of the various applications it serves and to provide extensive design flexibility. As such the micro-architecture has been developed as two unique platforms: Marvell Feroceon and Intel XScale.

The Marvell Processor Family

Marvell’s commitment to micro-architecture innovation is clear: Marvell is one of a few select companies to hold a full ARM architecture license, which has been utilized to develop the high-performance, cost-efficient, and scalable Feroceon™ micro-architecture. In addition, following Marvell’s acquisition of Intel’s cellular and handheld business in 2006, Marvell is continuing development of the high-performance, ultra-low-power-consumption Intel® XScale® micro-architecture, now in its third generation.

The ARM Instruction Set

The ARM instruction set architecture is surging to market prominence as the dominant standard for embedded CPU solutions. With vast engineering resources dedicated to enhancing the ARM-compliant CPU cores, Marvell is uniquely positioned to leverage the pervasiveness of the ARM instruction set. In addition, customers can take advantage of the comprehensive suite of hardware, platform enabling tools, and industry-standard ARM tool chains for increased time to market.

Marvell Feroceon

Designed from the ground up for price, performance, and scalability, the Feroceon micro-architecture features the industry’s fastest ARM-compliant core. Spanning both fixed and mobile applications, Marvell’s Feroceon-based solutions target a vast array of embedded markets including networked storage, media vaults, wired and wireless networking, and printers.

Intel XScale

Marvell’s mobile PXA communications and applications processors utilize the Intel XScale micro-architecture. Within the PXA processors, Intel XScale technology is combined with peripherals to enable the design of smaller, higher performance, more cost-effective handheld devices, with the power to deliver unparalleled multimedia experiences. The single Intel XScale micro-architecture, with its ability to operate over a wide range of speeds and power, gives developers the flexibility to design applications for the lowest power consumption or the highest performance.

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