Samsung has introduced a dual-core Cortex A9-based applications processor, codenamed Orion, capable of running at a clock frequency of 1-GHz and intended for advanced mobile applications.

The Orion processor is designed for such applications as tablets, netbooks and smartphones, Samsung said.

Orion features a pair of 1-GHz ARM Cortex A9 cores, each comes with a 32-kbyte data cache and a 32-kbyte instruction cache. Samsung also included a 1-Mbyte L2 cache to optimize CPU processing performance and provide fast context. In addition, the memory interface and bus architecture of Orion support multimedia applications including high-definition video playback. A graphics processing unit allows Orion to deliver five times the 3-D graphics performance of the previous processor generation from Samsung.

Samsung did not state whether the GPU is based on Mali licensed from ARM Holding plc, a PowerVR core licensed from Imagination Technologies Group plc or a third alternative.

Orion includes interfaces commonly used in mobile devices to configure various peripheral functionalities. Storage options include NAND flash, moviNAND, solid-state disk or hard disk drvive, providing both SATA, and eMMC interfaces. Customers can also choose between LP-DDR2 and DDR3 DRAM styles. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver baseband processor is embedded in the processor.

Orion features a triple display controller so that it can drive two on-device screens as well as driving a third external display such as a TV or a monitor, via an on-chip HDMI 1.3a interface. Orion is designed to support package-on-package (POP) with memory stacking to reduce the footprint. A derivative of Orion, which is housed in a standalone package with a 0.8-mm ball pitch, is also available.

Orion, will be available to select customers,in the fourth quarter of 2010 and is scheduled for mass production in the first half of 2011.

By: DocMemory
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