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Product Brief

The Am486® Microprocessor PCI Customer Development Platform

Chip Image

The Am486® Microprocessor PCI Customer Development Platform (CDP) provides an evaluation platform for customers to develop and benchmark network-ready firmware and applications for their Am486DX microprocessor-based designs. The Am486 Microprocessor PCI CDP provides an Am486DX microprocessor, core logic chipset, 100 Mbit/sec Ethernet controller, 9 Mbytes of AMD Flash memory, 48 Mbytes of DRAM, 512 Kbytes of L2 cache, as well as ISA and PCI expansion slots. The platform's use of low-cost, off-the-shelf components make it the ideal choice as an evaluation platform, a reference platform for system designs, or as a training aid.

The CDP features AMD's Am486DX microprocessor that combines x86 software compatibility with enhanced performance. The Am486DX microprocessor enhances performance by incorporating a 16-Kbyte write-back cache, flexible clock control, and enhanced System Management Mode (SMM). With the need for an ever-increasing level of processing power in embedded designs, the Am486DX microprocessor family delivers proven performance, competitive pricing, a software compatible migration path, and long-term product supply.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Am486DX Microprocessor
  • Am5x86 microprocessor™ core -DOS/Windows® - compatible 486 with FPU 2x (Am486DX2), 3x (Am486DX4), or 4x (Am486DX5) clock multiples capable of 66, 100, and 133 MHz
  • 16-Kbyte write-back or write-through cache
  • Complete 32-bit architecture:
    32-bit internal/32-bit external bus width, 4-Gbyte address range
  • IEEE 1149.1 JTAG boundary-scan compatibility
  • 3-V core with 5-V tolerant I/O
The Am486® Microprocessor PCI Customer Development Platform
Features Benefits
  • Core logic chipset:
    Northbridge: Cache, memory, and PCI controller
    Southbridge: ISA bridge controller
    M5402 mouse/keyboard controller
  • Standard off-the-shelf chipset guarantees ease of design
    Standard PC peripherals for easier expansion
  • 48 Mbytes of DRAM main memory
  • Configurable memory interface
  • Boot ROM
  • Allows code development with ROM ICE
  • 8 Mbytes of AMD Flash memory
  • High-speed interface to a large amount of memory for code execution directly from the AMD Flash
  • Onboard 512 Kbytes L2 cache
  • 512-Kbyte cache size, configured as 32-bit wide memory
  • 10/100 Mbit/sec ethernet controller
  • Onboard ethernet controller
  • PC and DOS compatibility
  • IDE interface in chipset
    - Standard chipset configuration registers
    - Off-the-shelf PC chipset
    - PC-style Real-Time Clock (RTC)
  • PC-Style Super I/O controller
  • Standard PC peripherals ensure software is readily available
  • ISA and PCI expansion bus support
  • Industry standard connectivity for off-the shelf hardware
  • Extensive development support: ICE, logic analyzer headers, and Test Interface Port (TIP)
  • Fast, efficient development

Am486® CDP

Diagram

Product Description

CPU
The Am486 Microprocessor PCI Customer Development Platform (CDP) features Acer Labs' FINALi 486 PCI chipset. The chipset's Northbridge(M1489) contains the memory controller and PCI controller, while the Southbridge (M1487) includes the ISA controller. The use of this standard off-the-shelf chipset enables faster time-to-market.

Ethernet
A full-duplex 10/100Base-T Ethernet port is provided using AMD's Am79C972 PCnet™ -FAST+ controller. The Am79C972 controller contains a high performance, 32-bit PCI interface, as well as large, flexible internal memory buffers to provide high-speed data throughput. This enables lower system costs and provides low CPU and system bus utilization.

Memory Subsystem

Included with the Am486 Microprocessor PCI CDP are three standard, 5-V, 72-pin Single In-line Memory Module (SIMM) sockets, populated with three 16-Mbyte, 60ns, Extended Data Out (EDO) SIMMs. The CDP supports 1-, 4-, or 16-Mbit technology DRAMs. The use of standard SIMM memory allows for easier configuration of any system. The onboard L2 Cache is another great feature with 512-Kbyte cache configured as 32-bit wide memory. Write-back or write-through protocols configurable through chipset registers and the onboard L2 Cache allows for 2-1-1-1 (read) and 2-2-2-2 (write) burst timing with15-ns data and 10-ns tag SRAMs.

9 Mbytes of AMD Flash memory are also included on the CDP. It includes 8 Mbytes of AMD Flash memory for execute-in-place (EIP) applications. The EIP Flash memory is controlled by an AMD 22V10 PAL® device programmed to act as a simple DRAM-to-Flash interface that enables the Flash memory to appear to the DRAM controller as a single bank of 32-bit-wide DRAM. This configuration allows high-speed access to a large block of non volatile memory. Since instructions can be directly executed from this memory space, the amount of DRAM required can be reduced. This can result in a lower system cost. In addition, there is 1 Mbyte of 16-bit wide AMD Flash memory soldered directly on the board and connected via the ISA Bus. Finally, a DIP socket is also provided for one 8-bit wideboot ROM that can be used to store a BIOS and is also useful for developing code with a ROM ICE.

Expansion Slots
Two desktop PC-style PCI and ISA expansion connectors allow the installation of a wide array of industry standard peripherals. These devices include video, sound, SCSI, or PCMCIA adapters. In addition, diagnostic devices such as PCI bus analyzers, extender cards,and other diagnostic hardware may be connected using these slots.

PC Compatibility
The Am486 Microprocessor PCI CDP offers PC and DOS compatibility. There is an IDE interface in the chipset, standard chipset configuration registers (known to BIOS and DOS), and an off-the-shelf PC chipset that provides the common I/O functions found in a PC. A PC-Style "Super I/O" controller is also included on the CDP. It includes two 16550-compatible serial ports, one parallel port, a floppy disk interface, and an IrDA port (115Kb/sec). The use of standard PC peripherals on the Am486 Microprocessor PCI CDP means driver software is readily available to the designer.

Development Support
Development support for the Am486 Microprocessor PCI CDP is available through many channels. An ICE may be connected to the CPU socket. In addition, there are logic analyzer and debug headers, configuration switches, I/O port 80h and 680h hexadecimal displays, JTAG support, and a connector for AMD's Test Interface Port (TIP) card. AMD's TIP card, not included, incorporates hexadecimal displays, a character LCD, two additional serial ports, and a parallel port that can be used to obtain critical information during software development. The combined features of the CDP offer designers a comprehensive tool for evaluating AMD's Am486DX microprocessor family. The Am486DX microprocessor family is also well supported by AMD's FusionE86(SM) third-party development program


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