[Arm-netbook] ARM SoC with OpenCL GPU : Exynos 4412 (was Re: SoC proposal)

[Guillaume Fortaine]

Hello,


> i've not mentioned this before, publicly, but some time last year when
> this initiative was still being considered we were finding it so
> ridiculously difficult to find cooperative CPU companies that we gave
> serious consideration to putting a deal together to create a new
> (entirely software-based) SoC that would be entirely FSF-Endorseable
> as it would be entirely software-programmable.

After having read many proposals on this mailing-list, I would greatly
appreciate to make my recommendation, if possible, please. On my side,
I would strongly advise to have a look at the Samsung Exynos 4412.

Because, Samsung is not only a member of Linaro :

http://www.linaro.org

But also, their Exynos 4412 will be the first ARM SoC with OpenCL
support thanks to its Mali-T604 GPU :

http://www.arm.com/products/multimedia/mali-graphics-hardware/mali-t604.php

It will be available in Q3 2012 and Insignal will provide the
corresponding development kit :

http://www.linaro.org/assets/PDF/LinaroOrigenLowCostBoard.pdf

Mister Dosung Lee will be able to provide you more informations about
this chip :

D.S. Lee (이도성)
Director
Marketing 1 Group
System LSI Division, Semiconductor Business
Samsung Electronics CO.,LTD

Tel.    +82-31-209-1618
Fax.    +82-31-209-1919
Mobile. +82-10-9899-0932
Email.  dosung.lee at samsung.com


Best Regards,

Guillaume FORTAINE


On Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 8:58 PM, lkcl luke <luke.leighton at gmail.com> wrote:
> folks, hi,
>
> i've not mentioned this before, publicly, but some time last year when
> this initiative was still being considered we were finding it so
> ridiculously difficult to find cooperative CPU companies that we gave
> serious consideration to putting a deal together to create a new
> (entirely software-based) SoC that would be entirely FSF-Endorseable
> as it would be entirely software-programmable.
>
> based around something like the ARC 32-bit RISC core (which was a hell
> of a lot better than ARM's offerings at the time), the idea was to put
> at least 4 of them down in 28nm, where they would quite happily run at
> at least 1.5ghz.
>
> the problem was that ARC's RISC core design wasn't SMP capable, and
> the team behind it didn't feel comfortable doing SMP cache coherency.
> we _did_ come up with a mad and very simple scheme to do cache
> coherency as a software interrupt (similar to how MMU page-swapping is
> done) and even discussed it on LKML thanks to alan cox and some input
> from another guy from intel, it turns out to have been a workable
> scheme.
>
> ... but, we didn't pursue it.
>
> some time last month i went "hang on a minute, maybe now's a better
> time" so i've done a draft of the interfaces (DDR3 RAM will be
> included)  the number of pins required is surprisingly low, which will
> get the cost down.
>
> i'd therefore greatly appreciate some help reviewing the pinouts.  the
> company that i've found that has an alternative 32-bit RISC core not
> only has SMP cache coherency already done, but also they have an
> absolutely amazing set of Instruction extensions, including DSP,
> Audio, Video, Base-band (for RF handset processing) and much more.
> the plan is, therefore, to target this CPU at a very very wide range
> of markets, based on it having:
>
> * 8 CPUs at 1.2ghz or above
> * SMP Cache Coherency
> * 32-bit DDR3 1333mhz RAM (with a 2nd version having 2 DDR3 interfaces)
> * virtually everything software-programmable (with the exception of
> CABAC decode)
>
> meaning that it will do 3D graphics _and_ 1080p Video entirely in
> software.  the interfaces i've selected so far will include:
>
> * HDMI Out _and_ In
> * 24-pin RGB/TTL
> * 2-channel LVDS
> * 2 PCIe (2-lane each)
> * USB-OTG, USB-2 and USB-3
> * SATA-3
> * NAND controller (8-bit with 4-way CS)
> * 3 SD/MMC interfaces
> * 3 SPI interfaces
> * 3 UARTs, 3 IIC interfaces, CAN-Bus, 2 PS/2, Touchscreen, 3 PWMs
> * 2 MPEG Transport Stream Interfaces
> * Smartcard Interface
>
> that means that it could be used in at least the following products:
>
> * Laptops, Netbooks, Tablets, Desktops, PCs, NAS-Boxes
> * PVRs, TVs, Set-Top Boxes, Satellite Decoders
> * Smartphones, Base Stations, GNU/Radio SDR Products
>
> bearing in mind that this will be out some time in middle of 2013, if
> it's started soon, i could reallly do with some help reviewing the
> interfaces and capabilities, to make sure i've got it right.
>
> tia,
>
> l.
>
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