ARM1156 Processor

The ARM1156™ processors bring ARM11™ performance tuned for high reliability and real-time embedded applications. The ARM1156T2-S and ARM1156T2F-S processors are based on the ARMv6 instruction set architecture and are extended with the same Thumb^®-2 enhancements found in the Cortex™ processor family. The ARM1156 processor uses a nine stage integer pipeline incorporating best in class branch prediction technology to deliver the highest instruction throughput of any ARM11™ class processor.

Why ARM1156?

Performance

Specifications

Related Products

Resources

Considering an ARM1156T2-S processor design?

The ARM1156 processor delivers:

An ARM11 family processor for embedded applications
First ARM11 family processor with Thumb^®-2 technology for code density
High DMIPS/area
Better utilization of tightly coupled memory
High core speeds
Real time performance enhancements vs. ARM9 family processors
Soft error resistant
Floating point performance
Enhanced system connectivity vs ARM9 family processors

The ARM1156 is still actively being licensed for embedded real-time SoCs due to it's maturity, low level of implementation risk, and low implementation cost. For Partners designing cutting edge real-time embedded SoCs, the Cortex-R4 represents the state of the art and is a better choice than ARM1156. The ARM1156 with its available Thumb-2 instruction set is upwardly code compatible with the latest generation ARM real-time processor, the Cortex-R4, which delivers the highest level of real-time performance in the ARM lineup.

Performance of the ARM1156 processor

Clock Speed
- 600 MHz TSMC 90G
Dhrystone 2.1
- 1.41 DMIPS/MHz
- 846 DMIPS
Floating Point Performance
- Single and double precision IEEE754 floating point
- MFLOPS/MHz
Power Consumption
- 0.42 mW/MHz **
- Area §1.75 mm2 **

* Strict compilation for Dhrystone 2.1

** Logic only, 600MHz TSMC 90G implementation

Specifications

ARM1156
Architecture	ARMv6
Dhrystone Performance	1.54 DMIPS/MHz
Multicore	No - Single processor only
ISA Support	ARM Thumb^®-2/ Thumb DSP extension Floating Point Unit (Optional)
Memory Management	Memory Protection Unit
Debug & Trace	CoreSight™ ARM11 Design Kit

ARM1156 Key Features

High Performance real-time processor

ARMv6 architecture processor
9 stage pipeline for high speed implementation
Multiple AMBA^® AXI™ ports for high bandwidth to memory
Configurable instruction and data caches

Reduced system cost

Thumb-2 for optimal instruction memory usage
Relaxed timing on Level 1 memory interfaces

Short time to market

RTOS compatible memory protection unit
JTAG and Trace interfaces for real-time debug
Development tools from ARM and 3rd party tools vendors
Reference methodologies from major EDA vendors

The ARM1156 is upwardly code compatible with the latest generation ARM Cortex-R4 real-time processor. The Cortex-R4 processor delivers the highest level of real-time performance in the ARM processor portfolio.

Cortex Alternative

The Cortex-R4 processor is a related follow-on product to the ARM1156. Most new SoC designs for embedded real-time applications are being based on the Cortex-R4 processor, however some SoC designs are starting with ARM1156 where cost, minimal risk, and product maturity are important considerations.

ARM1156 related products

The ARM1156 processor is commonly integrated with many other IP blocks to optimize the SoC for power and performance.

System IP
System IP components are essential for building complex system on chips and by utilizing ARM System IP components developers can significantly reduce development and validation cycles, saving cost and reducing time to market
Description	AMBA Bus	System IP Components
Advanced AMBA 3 Interconnect IP	AXI	NIC-301
DMA Controller	AXI	DMA-330
Dynamic Memory Controller	AXI	DMC-340
Static Memory Controller	AXI	SMC-35x
CoreSight™ Design Kit	ATB	CDK11

Media Processors
The Mali™ family of products combine to provide the complete graphics stack for all embedded graphics needs, enabling device manufacturers and content developers to deliver the highest quality, cutting edge graphics solutions across the broadest range of consumer devices.
Mali-200 GPU	High performance graphical processor providing advanced 2D and 3D acceleration. Supports OpenGL ES 2.0
Mali-55 GPU	Small, OpenGL ES 1.0 capable GPU

Physical IP
ARM Physical IP Platforms deliver process optimised IP, for best-in-class processor implementations of the ARM1156 at 90 nm, 65 nm and below.
Standard Cell Logic Libraries	Available in a variety of different architectures ARM Standard Cell Libraries support a wide performance range for all types of SoC designs. Designers can choose between different libraries and optimize their designs for speed, power and/or area
Memory Compilers and Registers	A broad array of silicon proven SRAM, Register File and ROM memory compilers for all types of SoC designs ranging from performance critical to cost sensitive and low power applications.
Interface Libraries	A broad portfolio of silicon-proven Interface IP designed to meet varying system architectures and standards. General Purpose I/O, Specialty I/O, High Speed DDR and Serial Interfaces are optimized to deliver high data throughput performance with low pin counts.

Tools Support

All ARM processors are supported by the ARM RealView^® portfolio of development tools, as well as a wide range of third party tools, operating system and EDA vendors. ARM RealView tools are unique in their ability to provide solutions that span the complete development process from concept to final product deployment.

Documentation

ARM1156T2-S Technical Reference Manual

ARM1156T2F-S Technical Reference Manual

ARM1156 Powered Products