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Benchmarks for Embedded Processors?

Posted by Cliff on from the beating-the-baseline dept.

shill asks: "I am interested in working on an embedded linux application, but I'm having difficulty choosing a processor. Is there somewhere I can find benchmarks or technical comparisons of various embedded processors, like the Trasmeta Crusoe 5400, Intel StrongARM 1110, and National Geode GX1? I am looking for performance information as well as power requirements, etc."

1 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. Wrong question by bluGill · · Score: 4, Informative

    Morre's law applies, so if you choose a processor that turns out to not be fast enough, you can install one twice as fast when you ship, and if that isn't fast enough, then none of today's current processors are fast enough either. Of course if you depend on one feature a lot, then you should choose a processor that has it, but normally this isn't an issue)

    Where I work we use the strongArm (SA110) a nice chip overall. However the diagnostics people estimate that we lost an year of devolpment because there is (or was?) no in circuit emulator. however the StrogArm has some nice supporting hardware, so it took us less time to design the hardware.

    x86 is an ugly instruction set. You should reject all x86 thoughts just based on that. Any assembly programers can learn whatever you choose, and most work is done in something else (C/C++ normally), so those who are not assembly experts should have a nice binary to look at for the rare times they do have to look at a disassembled output. RISK is really nice for that reason.

    It is all a trade off. However speed isn't important. How nice it is to design the hardware, and how nice it is to program (and debug!) for your application are important. Don't forget power consumption/cooling requirements.

    I have no doupt that there are some things I didn't mention because it isn't a problem for the things I work with, but you should look.