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Cortex-A9
General information
Designed byARM Holdings
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate0.8 GHz  to 2 GHz 
Cache
L1 cache32 KB I, 32 KB D
L2 cache128 KB–8 MB (configurable with L2sr1 cache controller)
Architecture and classification
MicroarchitectureARMv7-A
Physical specifications
Cores
  • 1–4
History
PredecessorARM Cortex-A8
SuccessorARM Cortex-A12

The ARM Cortex-A9 SR1 is a 32-bit multi-coreprocessor that provides up to 4 cache-coherent cores, each implementing the ARM v7 architecture instruction set.[1]

Viva SR[edit]

Main article: Comparison of ARMv7-A cores

Key features of the Cortex-A9 core are:[2]

  • Out-of-order speculative issue superscalar execution 8-stage[3] pipeline giving 2.50 DMIPS/MHz/core.
  • NEON SIMD instruction set extension performing up to 16 operations per instruction (optional).
  • High performance VFPv3 floating point unit doubling the performance of previous ARM FPUs (optional).
  • Thumb-2 instruction set encoding reduces the size of programs with little impact on performance.
  • TrustZone security extensions.
  • Jazelle DBX support for Java execution.
  • Jazelle RCT for JIT compilation.
  • Program Trace Macrocell and CoreSight Design Kit for non-intrusive tracing of instruction execution.
  • L2 cache controller (0–4 MB).
  • Multi-core processing.

ARM states that the TSMC 40G hard macro implementation typically operates at 2 GHz; a single core (excluding caches) occupies less than 1.5 mm2 when designed in a TSMC 65 nanometer (nm) generic process[4] and can be clocked at speeds over 1 GHz, consuming less than 250 mW per core.[5]

Chips[edit]

MediaTek M6575

Several system on a chip (SoC) devices implement the Cortex-A9 core, including:

  • Altera SoC FPGA[6]
  • AMLogic AML8726-M[7]
  • Apple A5, A5X
  • Broadcom BCM11311 (Persona ICE)[8]
  • Calxeda EnergyCore ECX-1000[9]
  • Entropic EN7588[10]
  • NXP Semiconductors (Formerly Freescale) QorIQ Layerscape LS1024A[11]
  • Freescale Semiconductor i.MX6[12]
  • HiSilicon[13] K3V2 -Hi3620[14]
  • Marvell Avastar 88W8787, used in the Sony PlayStation Vita[15][16]
  • MediaTek MT6575[17] (single core), MT6577[18] (dual core)
  • Mindspeed Technologies Mindspeed Comcerto 2000[19][20][21]
  • Nufront NuSmart 2816, 2816M, 115[22]
  • Nvidia Tegra 2 (without NEON extensions), Tegra 3 and Tegra 4i
  • Trident Microsystems 847x/8x/9x SoC family[23]
  • Renesas Electronics RZ/A1H,M,L,LU Family
  • Samsung Exynos 4210,[24] 4212, 4412, 4415
  • Rockchip RK3066,[25] RK292x, RK31xx
  • STMicroelectronics SPEAr1310,[26] SPEAr1340[27]
  • ST-Ericsson Nova A9500, NovaThor U8500,[28] NovaThor U9500[29]
  • Texas Instruments OMAP4 processors
  • Texas Instruments Sitara AM437x[30]
  • WonderMedia WM8850, WM8950 and WM8980[31]
  • Xilinx Extensible Processing Platform[32]
  • ZiiLABS ZMS-20[33]

Systems on a chip[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
DeveloperNameCoresProcessNEON SIMDVector floating point unitGPU
AlteraSoC FPGA1–228 nmYesVFPv3optionally implemented in FPGA; TES Electronic Solutions D/AVE HD
Ambarella Inc.S3L128 nmYesVFPv3–
AMLogicAML8726-M165 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400
AMLogicAML8726-MX240 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400 MP2
AMLogicAML8726-M8428 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-450 MP6
Apple Inc.A5232 nm
45 nm		YesVFPv3PowerVR SGX543MP2
Apple Inc.A5X245 nmYesVFPv3PowerVR SGX543MP4
BroadcomBCM11311 (Persona ICE)240 nm??Broadcom Videocore IV
BroadcomBCM21654140 nmYesVFPv3Broadcom Videocore IV
BroadcomBCM21664T240 nmYesVFPv3Broadcom Videocore IV
CalxedaEnergyCore ECX-1000[9]440 nmYesVFPv3–
ELVEES Multicore1892VM14Ya240 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-300
Freescale Semiconductori.MX6[34]1–440 nmYesVFPv3-D32Vivante Corporation GPU IP cores[35]
HiSiliconK3V2 (Hi3620)440 nmYesVFPv3Vivante GC4000
IntelCyclone V1–2?YesVFPv3-
LG CorpLG L92???ARM Mali-400 MP4
MarvellARMADA 38x1–228 nmYesVFPv3-
MarvellPXA986245 nmYesVFPv3PowerVR SGX540 / Vivante GC1000 (Galaxy Tab 3 7-inch)
MarvellPXA988245 nmYesVFPv3Vivante GC1000
MediaTekMT6575140 nmYesVFPv3PowerVR SGX531[17]
MediaTekMT6577240 nmYesVFPv3PowerVR SGX531[18]
Mindspeed TechnologiesComcerto 20002?Yes?–
NufrontNuSmartTM 2816(NS2816)2?YesVFPv3ARM Mali-400[36]
NufrontNuSmartTM 2816M (NS2816M)2?YesVFPv3ARM Mali-400
NufrontNuSmartTM 115 (NS115)2?YesVFPv3ARM Mali-400
NvidiaTegra 2 series240 nmNoVFPv3-D16GeForce ULP
NvidiaTegra 3 (Kal-El) series440 nmYesVFPv3GeForce ULP
Renesas Electronics[1]????–
Renesas ElectronicsRZ/A1H[37]1variousYesVFPv3
WXGA 2D graphics 10MByte RAM SoC
Renesas ElectronicsRZ/A1M[38]1variousYesVFPv3
WXGA 2D graphics 5MByte RAM SoC
Renesas ElectronicsRZ/A1L[39]1variousYesVFPv3
WXGA 2D graphics 3MByte RAM SoC
Renesas ElectronicsRZ/A1LU[40]1variousYesVFPv3

RZ/A1L plus Ethernet AVB support and a JPEG codec unit, 3MByte RAM SoC

RockchipRK2928140 nm??ARM Mali-400
RockchipRK3066[25]240 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400 MP4
RockchipRK31282?YesVFPv3ARM Mali-400 MP4
RockchipRK3188[41]428 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400 MP4
SamsungExynos 4 Dual (4210)245 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400 MP4
SamsungExynos 4 Dual (4212)232 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400 MP4
SamsungExynos 4 Quad (4412)432 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400 MP4
SamsungExynos 4 Quad (4415)428 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400 MP4
STMicroelectronicsSPEAr1310??NoVFPv3–
STMicroelectronicsSPEAr13402?NoVFPv3-D16ARM Mali-200[42]
ST-EricssonNova A9500245 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400
ST-EricssonNovaThor U8500245 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400
ST-EricssonNovaThor U9500245 nmYesVFPv3ARM Mali-400
SonyPlayStation Vita440 nmYesVFPv3PowerVR SGX543MP4+
Texas InstrumentsSitara AM437x145 nmYesVFPv3SGX530 Graphics Engine
Texas InstrumentsOMAP4430OMAP4460245 nmYesVFPv3PowerVR SGX540
Texas InstrumentsOMAP4470245 nmYesVFPv3PowerVR SGX544
Trident MicrosystemsPNX8473[43]1???PowerVR SGX531
Trident MicrosystemsPNX8483[44]1???PowerVR SGX531
Trident MicrosystemsPNX8491[45]1???PowerVR SGX531
WonderMediaWM88501?Yes?ARM Mali-400
WonderMediaWM8880240 nm??ARM Mali-400 MP2
WonderMediaWM89501???ARM Mali-400[31]
WonderMediaWM8980240 nm??ARM Mali-400 MP2
XilinxZynq-7000[46]228 nmYesVFPv3–
ZiiLABSZMS-20??YesVFPv3ZiiLABS flexible Stemcell media processing

See also[edit]

  • ARM architecture
  • List of ARM cores
  • List of applications of ARM cores
  • Comparison of ARMv8-A cores
  • JTAG

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore". Arm.com. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Cortex-A9 Processor Specifications". ARM.
  3. ^ "White paper: The ARM Cortex-A9 Processors" (PDF). ARM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Cortex-A9 Single Core Processor". Arm.com. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  5. ^ "ARM spins multicore-enabled Cortex core - News - Linux for Devices". Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  6. ^ SoC FPGA overview, Altera
  7. ^ IbhMobile Internet Devices, Amlogic, archived from the original on 4 May 2014
  8. ^ "BCM11311 - Persona ICE Application Processor". Broadcom.
  9. ^ a b "EnergyCore ECX-1000: Technical Specifications". Calxeda. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  10. ^ "High Performance, Dual-Core IP Set-top Box SoC". Entropic. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  11. ^ QorIQ® Layerscape 1024A Dual-Core Communications Processor, NXP Semiconductors
  12. ^ "Introducing the i.MX 6 Series". Freescale Semiconductor.
  13. ^ http://www.hisilicon.com
  14. ^ "HiSilicon Unveils Quad-Core Cortex A9 K3V2 Processor (Hi3620)".
  15. ^ Johnny Cullen (24 January 2011). "Sony outs tech specs for NGP". VG247. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  16. ^ "Sony Playstation Vita Teardown & Product Analysis". TechInsights. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  17. ^ a b "MediaTek - MT6575". MediaTek. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  18. ^ a b "MediaTek - MT6577". MediaTek. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  19. ^ Roy Rubenstein (9 October 2012). "An ARM based programmable processor is set to enable new communications products".
  20. ^ Kevin Trosian (8 January 2013). "Mindspeed to Showcase the Industry's First ARM Cortex A9-based Communications Processor with Integrated DPI at 2013 CES".
  21. ^ "MACOM to Showcase Newly Acquired Mindspeed Comcerto 2000 System-on-Chip (SoC) Processors at the 2014 International CES". 7 January 2014.
  22. ^ "Computer System Chip". Nufront. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  23. ^ NXP to show the first fully integrated 45nm set top box soc based on ARM cortex - A9 processors
  24. ^ "Exynos 4210". samsung.com. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  25. ^ a b RK3066 Dual-Core Era is coming
  26. ^ SPEAr1310 Dual-core Cortex A9 embedded MPU for communications
  27. ^ SPEAr1340 Dual-core Cortex A9 embedded MPU for communications, archived from the original on 2 May 2012, retrieved 3 March 2012
  28. ^ ST-Ericsson NovaThor U8500, ST-Ericsson, archived from the original on 22 July 2013, retrieved 19 February 2011
  29. ^ ST-Ericsson NovaThor U9500, ST-Ericsson, archived from the original on 2 October 2011, retrieved 25 September 2011
  30. ^ "AM437x Sitara Processors".
  31. ^ a b "WonderMedia Announces PRIZM WM8950 with Android 4.0 Support". 19 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  32. ^ White Paper: Extensible Processing Platform (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2011, retrieved 25 September 2011
  33. ^ ZiiLABS ZMS-20 Dual ARM Cortex A9 Media Processor, archived from the original on 25 September 2011, retrieved 26 September 2011
  34. ^ Introducing the i.MX 6 Series of Applications Processors (PDF)
  35. ^ Vivante GPU IP Cores Power the Latest Freescale i.MX 6 Series of Application Processors, archived from the original on 20 November 2011, retrieved 25 September 2011
  36. ^ Nufront 2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 for Desktop, Laptop and Netbook – NuSmart 2816
  37. ^ RZ A1H Home
  38. ^ RZ A1M Home
  39. ^ RZ A1L Home
  40. ^ RZ A1L, Home
  41. ^ http://www.gizmochina.com/2012/12/05/review-of-rockchip-rk3166-quad-core-chipset/
  42. ^ SPEAr family of embedded microprocessors (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2011, retrieved 25 September 2011
  43. ^ PNX8473, archived from the original on 29 October 2013, retrieved 26 June 2013
  44. ^ PNX8483, archived from the original on 29 October 2013, retrieved 26 June 2013
  45. ^ Samsung Galaxy A9 sale in India today: Price in India, offers and features (2018), November 2018[permanent dead link]
  46. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[edit]

ARM Holdings
  • Official website
  • ARM Cortex-A9 Technical Reference Manuals
Other
  • White paper - The ARM Cortex-A9 Processors
  • RISC vs. CISC in the mobile era
  • TI OMAP4440 specs
  • STMicroelectronics SPEAr1310 Data brief
  • RM Cortex-A9
  • Popular ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore & Multi-core processor videos, YouTube.
  • ARM Assembly language