New i960® JT Processor Speeds Performance to 100 MHz; Quadruples Cache for Data-Intensive Imaging, Networking

New Mini-package Also Available for Space-Constrained Applications

CHANDLER, Ariz., March 16, 1998 – Intel today announced the new i9607® JT processor, a higher-performance version of the popular, i960 Jx series chips.

Priced at $35 U.S. in quantity, the new processor offers up to 100 MHz performance in addition to increased on-chip cache. The new processor is 100 percent socket- and code-compatible with other i960 Jx series processors, allowing designers to upgrade product performance while preserving hardware design and software investments.

The new i960 JT processor and other versions of the i960 Jx series chips will now be available in a new mini-plastic ball grid array (mini-PBGA) package. This small package was created to provide high-performance, 32-bit RISC processing in a very small form factor. Features of the i960 JT processor include 16 Kbytes of instruction cache and 4 Kbytes of data cache, four times the cache of previous i960 Jx series processors. The i960 JT processor is based on the highly successful i960 32-bit RISC architecture with an efficient instruction set and 16 global and 16 local registers.

"The increasing amount of code for applications like imaging and networking requires more processing power and bigger on-chip caches. The i960 JT processor offers the performance and cache to handle data-intensive applications, while retaining compatibility with existing designs," said Tom Franz, vice president and general manager, Intel's Embedded Microcomputer Division. "The new mini-PBGA package, the first of its kind for a 32-bit embedded processor, gives our customers more options in configuring their designs and in creating new applications that take advantage of the popular and well-supported i960 architecture."

Embedded applications benefiting from these features include devices such as inkjet printers, multi-function peripherals, remote access equipment and ADSL modems. These applications typically require the intensive data-handling capabilities provided by the i960 JT processor to ensure accelerated execution of complex software and time-critical interrupt routines.

"These new products are part of our continuing effort to address the special requirements of the high-performance embedded market segment," said Sharon Steppe, Intel product marketing manager. "We have kept the bus frequency of the new i960 JT processor below 40 MHz to ease system design and reduce system cost, while maintaining a socket compatible performance upgrade for those designers already using the i960 architecture."

The new, small (mini-PBGA) package for the i960 Jx processor simplifies the manufacturing process and is optimal for high-density packaging for both remote access products and networking equipment. In addition, the new package can improve a networking device's price per port by enabling increased port density.

Free evaluation of the new i960 JT processor will be available immediately on the Intel Remote Evaluation Facility (REF) for the i960 architecture. The REF provides designers with a secure, on-line development environment in which they can evaluate code, store data and access stored projects.

The REF also gives designers access to Intel C software development tools, code compilers and evaluation boards for the entire i960 product line.

As part of the long-standing Solutions960® development tools program, a number of tools will be offered. A QUICKval 80960 starter kit with on-line tutorials, benchmarking, profiling and applications example will be available immediately. QUICKval 80960 features a Cyclone evaluation platform with 2 Mbytes DRAM expandable to 32 Mbytes, Flash ROM sockets and a Squall II module I/O expansion interface. The kit, which is interoperable with many third-party vendor tools, also includes a CTOOLS development suite CD-ROM with compiler, assembler, debugger, monitor, linker, loader, libraries, utilities and manuals.

Pricing and Availability
The i960 JT processor is available now in the mini-PBGA package for $35 U.S. in 10K unit quantities.

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