In the past, processor performance was closely tied to clock frequency, which resulted in power consumption outpacing computing performance gains. This unsustainable trend was reversed by Intel® Multi-Core Technology that delivers processors with higher overall performance and better performance per watt.
How it Works
A processor with Intel® Multi-Core Technology supports multiple cores that run at lower supply voltage and clock frequency, resulting in significant power savings. At the same time, the processors perform parallel processing, executing multiple tasks simultaneously, which increases overall performance.
Key Benefits
Power-efficient performance allows embedded developers to upgrade application capabilities more cost effectively and reduce costs through hardware consolidation. Today, many embedded applications, like industrial controllers and military ground control systems, need to run multiple applications simultaneously, and Intel multi-core processors are up to the task. They are also backwards compatibility with Intel® architecture-based processors so they run today's 64-bit applications while supporting legacy 32-bit applications.
Industrial Scenario
Industrial controllers on a production line manage equipment that cuts, bends, paints and solders materials, just to name a few of the countless number of possible tasks. The actuators and sensors that manage these activities need quick responses from the controller, within specific timing windows, to keep the line running smoothly. To improve real-time response, Intel multi-core processors have demonstrated a significant reduction in clock jitter¹, which is the difference between the actual and ideal timing of a control loop. Real-time tasks can be assigned to a dedicated core, unencumbered by other system tasks that would compete for its processor resources.
Retail Scenario
Point of Sale (POS) systems come in all shapes and sizes, but that doesn’t mean the insides are all that different. In fact, to reduce cost, POS vendors develop a single board to serve diverse applications, sizes and geographies. Since Intel supplies a family of socket-compatible Intel multi-core processors, vendors can swap the processor and memory, change the peripheral mix and provide POS systems with a whole new personality.
Intel provides configurations of processors and chipsets to meet the power-efficient performance, Internet connectivity and security requirements of embedded devices.
Power-efficient application performance and media processing is now available in modular small form factor designs optimized for retail devices that run new applications securely.
Documentation, tools and technical support for embedded development
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