i960(R) Embedded Microprocessor Q & A

• What is the i960?
• What is the availability for the i960?
• What evaluation platforms are available for the i960 family?
• What is included with the QUICKval Starter kit for the i960?
• What is the Cyclone EP board?
• Can the i960 family interface to a PCI bus?
• What is the PCI I/O Software Development Kit(PCI-SDK)?
• What design references and ApNotes are available for the i960 ?

Q) What is the i960?

A) The i960 is a high performance 32-bit RISC embedded processor family, with performance range of 7 MIPS to 150 MIPS. The i960is targeted for applications that execute large amounts of code(usually over 1 Meg), move large amounts of data rapidly, and/or require very fast response times. Specifically, the i960 processors are a good fit for:

• Local and wide area networking - bridges, routers, hubs, ATM, FDDI
• Intelligent PC I/O controllers - SCSI, RAID
  
• Imaging - printers, scanners, x-terminals, medical imaging

  Also refer to faxback doc # 2033 for line card and 2064 for product overviews for entire family.

Q) What is the availability for the i960?

A)

Part Number	Samples	Production
80960SA/SB	Now	Now
80960KA/KB	Now	Now
80960JA/JF	Now	January 1995
80L960JA/JF	Now	April 1995
80960JD	November 1994	April 1995
80960CA/CF	Now	Now
80960HA/HD	Q1 1995	Unannounced
80960HT	Q2 1995	Unannounced

Q) What evaluation platforms are available for the i960 family?

A) The evaluation platforms available for the i960 family are:

• EV80960SX--evaluation board for the i960 SX.
• EP80960CX--evaluation board for the i960 CX.
  
• EP80960BB--Cyclone EP modular evaluation platform for all members of
  i960 family.

Q) What is included with the QUICKval Starter kit for the i960?

A) The QUICKval Starter Kit Includes:

• An evaluation platform--Either an EP80960CX or an EV80960SX.
• GNU/960 (DOS host) Cross-Development Toolset. This includes a
  compiler, assembler, linker, libraries, debugger, monitor and utilities.
  
• Profile-driven optimization example and benchmarking routines. Also
  included are software examples that demonstrate how to exploit all of the
  features of the i960 architecture.
  
• On-line tutorial that guides a user through all the necessary steps to
  benchmark code and maximize runtime performance using the profiling
  optimization feature.
  
• Complete product manuals and documentation, including a Getting Started
  manual.
  The order codes for the QUICKval Starter Kits are:
  

  GSX80960K		i960 SX Processor QUICKval Kit
  GCX80960K		i960 CX Processor QUICKval Kit

Q) What is the Cyclone EP board?

A) The Cyclone EP board is an evaluation platform for the i960 family that is
configured as a stand-alone base board with interchangeable modules. The
Cyclone EP is capable of supporting the entire i960 family; from the low cost
i960 SX processors to the newest and highest performance members of the
family, the i960 HX processors.
Product ordering information:

	Base Board
	EP80960BB				Baseboard without CPU Module
	CPU Modules
	CPU80960HX				HX Microprocessor CPU Module
	CPU80960CX				CX Microprocessor CPU Module
	CPU80960JX				JX Microprocessor CPU Module
	CPU80960KX				KX Microprocessor CPU Module
	CPU80960SX				SX Microprocessor CPU Module
	I/O Modules
	SQETHERNET				ETHERNET Module
	SQHSS				High Speed Serial
	SQSCSI-2				SCSI-2
	SQSCSI-3				SCSI-3 (Fast and Wide)

Q) Can the i960 family interface to a PCI bus?

A) Yes. PLX Technology makes a PCI bridge for the i960. For more information
about this, please call PLX Technology at (415) 960-0448.

Q) What is the PCI I/O Software Development Kit(PCI-SDK)?

A) Intel's i960 microprocessor PCI I/O Software Development Kit is a low-cost,
fully scaleable development kit. The PCI-SDK features a Cyclone evaluation
platform with PLX Technology's PCI 9060(a PCI to 80960 bus interface),
interchangeable i960 processor modules, and interchangeable I/O interface
target modules. The kit also includes a complete set of software development
tools including GNU/960 (DOS host) Cross-Development Toolset, with profile
driven compiler, assembler, linker, libraries, debugger, monitor, and utilities. The order codes for the PCI-SDKs are:

	GCX80960PCI			i960 CX Processor SDK
	GJX80960PCI			i960 JX Processor SDK
	GKX80960PCI			i960 KX Processor SDK
	GSX80960PCI			i960 SX Processor SDK

Q) What design references and ApNotes are available for the i960 ?

A) The main sources for design references for the i960 are the user's manuals for the evaluation boards:

• EP80960CX Evaluation Platform User's Guide--order # 272456
• QT960 User Manual(reference designs for the 80960KX)--order # 270875
  
• EV80960SX Evaluation Board User's Manual--order # 272017
  These show design references for interfacing with DRAM, FLASH, timers, serial ports, etc. Schematics and PAL equations are included.
  Also available are:
  
• ApNote for designing for compatibility between the 80960CX and the 80960HX--order # 272556.
  
• ApNote for designing for compatibility between the 80960KX and the 80960JX--faxback document # 2186.
  
• Design reference for interfacing the 82596CA LAN controller and the
  i960 KX. Found in 32-bit Local Area Network (LAN) Component User's Manual--order # 296853.
  
• Design reference for interfacing the 82596CA LAN controller and the i960 CX. Found in 32-bit Local Area Network (LAN) Component User's Manual--order # 296853.

Q) Are there military versions of the i960 family?

A) Yes. The military versions of the i960 are:

• 80960MX
• 80960MC
  
• 80960XA
  For information on these processors, call the Military Hotline: (800) 344-2280

Legal Stuff © 1997 Intel Corporation