Custom RISC has international applications

Abstract

The authors describe the VL86C010 family of RISC (reduced-instruction-set computer) processors and peripherals, which was originally a custom design for Acorn Computers Ltd. The resultant performance proved its value in many other functions as well, providing an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) core. The VL86C020 provides an ASIC-capability two-and-a-half times performance increase over the previous generation VL86C010 while maintaining software compatibility. By offering the CPU and cache memory on a single device, and itself as a core, the processor offers a superior upward migration path because the highest-frequency memory path is not required to cross a chip boundary. As process rules continue to shrink, the clock frequency can be increased for on-chip operations accordingly without making undue demands on external memory system bandwidth.<>