A feature-rich processor optimized for high-speed
networking and storage applications
PowerPC 440GX Embedded Processor
Delivers 500 to 667MHz
performance with low power in
a small form factor
Provides 256KB on-chip SRAM,
configurable as an L2 cache or as
packet/code-store memory for
low-latency access
Integrates state-of-the-art
peripherals, such as PCI-X and
DDR SDRAM
Offers four Ethernet interfaces,
including two 10/100/1Gb MACs
with jumbo frame support, for
increased bandwidth and
connectivity
Embeds TCP/IP Acceleration
Hardware (TAH), freeing CPU
core cycles for other application
demands
Includes a messaging unit that
facilitates communications over
the PCI, for increased application
performance
Ensures PowerPC
application
code compatibility, as well as
offering enhanced data integrity
through processor parity
Highlights
Advanced processing capability for
high-performance embedded systems
The IBM PowerPC 440GX processor
offers the versatility and bandwidth
required for today's demanding
networking and storage applications.
This highly integrated device delivers
CPU performance of up to 667MHz
and executes up to two instructions per
cycle. A PCI-X interface that supports
frequencies of up to 133MHz and
an on-chip double data rate (DDR)
SDRAM controller, supporting up to
DDR333, further enhance processor
capabilities. With embedded state-of-
the-art peripheral cores, the 440GX
processor is ideal for networking control
plane applications, RAID controllers,
iSCSI processing, and storage area
networking (SAN) equipment.
I/O processing applications can benefit
from the integrated messaging unit,
designed to the I2O specification.
This messaging unit improves system
performance by enabling the 440GX
processor to communicate via I2O
messages with a host system on the PCI
bus. This allows the processor to work
as an intelligent I/O adapter controller.
The 256KB on-chip SRAM can be
configured either as a performance-
enhancing L2 cache, or as memory-
PowerPC 440GX Embedded Processor block diagram
PCI-X
Bridge
DDR
SDRAM
Controller
I2
O
Messaging
Unit
32KB
I-Cache
w/parity
10/100
Ethernet
MAC
10/100/1G
Ethernet
MAC
TCP/IP
Accel.,
Jumbo
Frame
32KB
D-Cache
w/parity
RAM/ROM/
Peripheral
controller
On-chip Peripher
al Bus (O
PB)
Up to 83 MHz
Arbiter
OPB
Bridge
DMA
Controller
PLB Perf
Monitor
MAL
MMU
w/parity
Timers
JTAG
Trace
UIC
440 CPU Core
External bus
master cntlr.
UART
IIC
GPIO
GPT
L2/SRAM Control
256KB
SRAM
Up to 166MHz
Processor Local Bus (PLB)
128-bit
Arbiter
Gigabit Ethernet and TCP/IP assist
extend application capability
The 440GX integrates four Ethernet
media access controllers (MACs),
including two 10/100Mb interfaces and
two 10/100/1Gb interfaces with support
for jumbo packets and TCP/IP assist.
These MACs offer both flexibility and
high performance. For example, they
can be configured to provide four SMII
interfaces for maximum connectivity; or
dual gigabit interfaces for high-speed
communications, plus one or two Fast
Ethernet interfaces for other application
requirements.
Many networking and storage
applications will benefit from the
PowerPC 440GX software-enabled
TCP/IP hardware-assist state
machine that accelerates data packet
processing. This TCP/IP engine relieves
the CPU of the checksum and transmit
segmentation workload, making it
available to handle other application
demands.
Code compatibility facilitates
application migration
The PowerPC 440GX processor is a
32-bit implementation of the Book E
Enhanced PowerPC ArchitectureTM
that ensures code compatibility across
all PowerPC processors. The 440GX
design implements the CoreConnectTM
bus architecture with a 166MHz
Processor Local Bus (PLB) that includes
a 128-bit data bus and a separate 36-
bit address bus. The processor also
has an 83MHz On-chip Peripheral
Bus (OPB) that supports the 36-bit
address bus, as well as a 32-bit data
bus that can dynamically resize to 16
or 8 bits, depending on the transaction.
Conformance to these architectures
facilitates and helps to reduce the
cost of application development and
migration.
PowerPC tools support fast
time-to-market
PowerPC embedded processors are
supported by IBM and more than
100 third-party vendors through the
PowerPC Embedded Tools Program.
This program provides compilers,
debuggers, real-time operating systems,
emulators, logic analyzers, and a full
range of tools to help manufacturers
develop products quickly and efficiently.
mapped SRAM for low-latency
access. Used as L2, the 256KB
SRAM is a 4-way set-associative,
unified data/instruction cache, which
can benefit many applications. As
memory-mapped SRAM, it has
lower memory access latency than
the SDRAM, offering quick access
to crucial code or data. Software-
controlled and with parity support,
this memory is ideal for storing data
packets, critical code segments,
Ethernet or DMA descriptors, or
other application-specific data. When
configured as a memory-mapped
region, this SRAM is accessible from
any PLB master, which can further
improve application performance.
PowerPC 440GX Specifications
Technology 0.13m CMOS CU-11 Copper
Performance (est.) 500 to 667MHz
1334 DMIPs @ 667MHz
Frequency
CPU 500 to 667MHz
Memory, 32-bit width 800MBps (DDR200) to 1.3GBps (DDR333)
Memory, 64-bit width 1.6GBps (DDR200) to 2.6GBps (DDR333)
PCI 33 to 66MHz
PCI-X 50 to 133MHz
Typical Power Dissipation (est.) 4.5W
Case Temperature Range -40 to 85 C
Power Supply
Core logic 1.5V
I/O 2.5V or 3.3V, depending on interface
I/O Signals 406
Packaging 552-ball, 25mm x 25mm CBGA
(with 1.0mm pad pitch)
A PowerPC 440GX reference board kit
is available to help expedite product
evaluation and project development.
PowerPC 440GX features
The PowerPC 440GX processor
provides the ability to develop high-
performance, high-functionality
networking and storage applications:
PowerPC 440 Core
- 500 to 667MHz, 2.0 DMIPS/MHz
- 32K/32K I-cache/D-cache with
parity (tags and arrays)
- Dual-issue, superscalar, 7-stage
pipeline
- Book E architecture, 32-bit
implementation
- Memory management unit with
parity
CoreConnect
- Up to 166MHz CoreConnect
Processor Local Bus (128-bit
PLB) with separate read and write
databases
- Up to 83MHz CoreConnect On-
chip Peripheral Bus (32-bit OPB)
- 36-bit address, 64GB memory
map
32/64-bit DDR200-DDR333
SDRAM Controller
- Up to four 512MB logical banks, for
a total of 2GB
- Optional 8-bit ECC protection
- Sustainable 2.6GBps peak
bandwidth at DDR333
32/64-bit PCI-X Interface, up to
133MHz
- 800 MBps sustained bandwidth,
1.1GBps peak bandwidth
- Support for PCI v2.3, up to 66MHz
- Ability to boot from PCI-X bus
memory
Messaging Unit (I2O specification)
that facilitates communication
between 440 core and PCI-X
256KB on-chip SRAM
- Configurable as either L2 cache
or packet/code store memory
- L2 cache: Unified, 4-way set-
associative
- Packet/code store: PLB-attached,
accessible by 440 core and
peripheral cores
- Parity support on SRAM
External Bus Control (EBC)
Interface
- Up to 83MHz, 32-bit address bus,
32-bit data bus
- Support for up to 8 ROM, RAM, or
slave peripheral I/O devices
- 4-channel DMA support for
external peripherals
- External bus master controller for
access to internal peripherals
DMA Controller
- Four independent channels,
supporting internal and external
peripherals
- Support for memory-to-memory,
peripheral-to-memory, and
memory-to-peripheral transfers
- Scatter/gather capability
- 128-byte buffer with
programmable thresholds
Up to Four Ethernet Ports, including
Two Gigabit Ports
- Two 10/100/1Gb Ethernet ports with
jumbo frame support and TCP/IP
assist, configurable as either
2 SMII, 2 RGMII/RTBI, or 1 GMII/TBI
interface
- 2 10/100 Ethernet Ports, con-
figurable as one MII or two RMII/
SMII
TCP/IP acceleration hardware (TAH)
- Available on the two 10/100/1Gb
Ethernet ports
- Checksum processing of packet
- Transmit packet segmentation
On-chip Peripherals
- Two serial ports, one 9-pin and one
5-pin
- Two IIC controllers, designed to
Phillips IIC specification
- Up to 32 GPIO
- Up to 18 external interrupts
- General purpose timers
L1 Cache Array and Tag Parity
- Option to enable semi-recoverable
or fully recoverable modes
Universal Programmable Interrupt
Controller
Debug Support
- JTAG
- RISCTraceTM
- RISCWatchTM support
For more information, visit our Web site at
ibm.com/powerpc.
G224-7128-00
Copyright IBM Corporation 2002
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America 8-02
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subject to change without notice. The products
described in this document are NOT intended
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