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Transmeta Crusoe. A revolutionary CPU for mobile computing Ashraful Alam. Outline . What is Crusoe? Why Crusoe? Crusoe architechture 128 bit VLIW Code morphing technology Integrated northbridge LongRun technology Conclusion. What is Crusoe?. A low power consuming x86 processor
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Transmeta Crusoe A revolutionary CPU for mobile computing Ashraful Alam
Outline • What is Crusoe? • Why Crusoe? • Crusoe architechture • 128 bit VLIW • Code morphing technology • Integrated northbridge • LongRun technology • Conclusion
What is Crusoe? • A low power consuming x86 processor • Developed by Transmeta Corporation • Devoted to fill gap in mobile CPU market • Developed from scratch • Hybrid hardware-software design • Efficient computing
Why Crusoe • Lighter is better • Low power consumption • Fan less systems • High mobility without compromise
Targeted Market • Wireless computing • Silent PC • Home theatre PC • Portable pc • Dense Server Cluster
Crusoe Product Line All power requirement includes Northbridge power. The SE versions of Crusoe are designed for Embedded systems Table: Family of Crusoe processors [source: http://www.transmeta.com/crusoe/specs.html]
Crusoe Architechture • 128 Bit Very Large Instruction Word Issue • Hybrid computing aka Code morphing™ • Integrated Northbridge on die • LongRun™ Technology
128 Bit VLIW Engine • 4 instruction issue • Fewer transistors = less power consumption • Introducing code morphing™ • Large 512kb cache
128bit VLIW (cont.) • Crusoe executes like a superscalar processor Source: http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/cpu/crusoe.ars/3
Code Morphing • Software layer around the hardware • x86 compatibility without complexity • Reduced transistors • Statistical optimization • Downloadable hardware upgrade!
Code Morphing (cont.) • Code morphing software creates a bridge between x86 software and Crusoe [Source: http://www.transmeta.com/crusoe/codemorphing.html]
Code Morphing (cont.) • Blue represents hardware in silicon • Yellow represents software layer Source: http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/cpu/crusoe.ars/2
Code Morphing (cont.) • 2 parts of the code morphing software: • Interpreter • Interprets x86 code • Filters infrequent code for interpretation only • Gathers statistical data • Translator • Recompiles frequently used code for optimization • Stores translated code into translation cache
Integrated Northbridge • On die memory controller • On die PCI bus controller • Serial ROM controller • Benefits • Reduced power consumption • Compact system design
LongRun™ Technology • LongRun technology is tightly coupled with code morphing software • Performs two task: • Power management • Thermal management
LongRun Power Management • Dynamically adjust both core voltage and clock speed • Cubic power requirement reduction • Power = (Capacitance * freq * voltage^2)/2 • Most conventional CPU can only adjust frequency * AMD’s “cool N quiet” technology adjusts both voltage and clock frequency
Power Management (cont.) • If Idle time is detected, processor may reduce voltage/frequency to reduce power usage
Power Management (cont.) Figure: Dynamic frequency scaling Power management heuristic – goal is to eliminate CPU sleep time as much possible [source: LongRun Power management white paper]
Power Management (cont.) Figure: Voltage scaling Voltage and frequency scale can be done upto 200 time/sec [source: LongRun Power management white paper]
Thermal Management • Coupled with code morphing software to throttle CPU • Efficient computing in low temperature • Dynamically reduces voltage/frequency • Does not force CPU to sleep phase to reduce heat • Provides more performance in higher temperature or same performance in lower temperature.
Thermal Management (cont.) • P3 and Crusoe running DVD movie • Crusoe TM5400 requires no active cooling
Conclusion • Revolutionary hybrid design • Efficient use of instruction optimization • Reduced power consumption • Leads the path in efficient computing • Great choice for mobile computing • Great choice for systems where low power processing is required
Sources • The Technology Behind Crusoe™ Processors White Paper by Transmeta Corporation • Crusoe™ LongRun™ Power Management White Paper by Transmeta Corporation • Crusoe Explored by John Stokes http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/cpu/crusoe.ars/1