"CXD2230GA" New Handheld Engine

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July 17, 2003



Sony Develops New "Handheld EngineTM" Application CPU for CLIETM Handheld
Sony Strengthens Its Plan to Vertically Integrate Components for More Effective Product Development


Sony Corporation today announced the development of the new "Handheld EngineTM" application CPU which will be incorporated into the new CLIETM PEG-UX50 handheld. The PEG-UX50 will be available in Japan from August 9, 2003.

The Handheld EngineTM is an application CPU designed to function as the heart of CLIETM products developed and produced by Sony. It will be manufactured at Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'s semiconductor fabrication facility in Nagasaki Prefecture, SCE Fab. The Handheld Engine achieves low power consumption and offers AV performance advantages such as smooth video playback at low clock speeds by utilizing low-voltage large capacity/wide band-width 64Mbit embedded DRAM technology, Sony's original wide band-width BUS architecture, and a 0.18um production process.

The newly developed "DVFMTM (Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Management)" technology achieves efficient power consumption by automatically selecting a clock rate and then adjusting the power supply voltage to match via a speed monitoring function. The CLIETM PEG-UX50 represents the world's first commercial product implementation of such a voltage control function.

Moreover, the "Handheld EngineTM" application CPU contributes to the miniaturization of CLIETM handheld devices by integrating various I/F functions including a two-dimensional graphics engine, camera interface and Memory Stick interface onto a single chip.

Newly developed Handheld EngineTM application CPU key specifications:
Model CXD2230GA
Configuration Main CPU:ARM926�,eDRAM:64Mbit
DSP,DVFM,2D-GE,LCDC, Various I/F
Process Rule 0.18um embedded DRAM CMOS process
Package 368 pin TFLGA
Operating Voltage Internal Voltage: 1.2-1.6V I/O Voltage: 2.5-3.3V
Power Consumption For playback of MPEG4 movie "Movie Player" application software During operation: approx. 270mW*
Standby: approximately 1.7mW
Clock Rate 8MHz-123MHz
Number of Gates 1350K Gates, SRAM 1.3Mbit, DRAM 64Mbit
*CIF 15fps 216Kbps AAC: 64Kbps

Believing that semiconductors will be key devices in increasing the value of products, Sony is pursuing active technology development and equipment investment. Recently, Sony announced the integration of core PlayStation®2 semiconductors onto a single chip through 90 nm process technology, as well as capital investment towards the introduction of 65 nm process technology and plans for approximately 500 million yen in semiconductor fabrication related investments by 2005.


Here is the link: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200307/03-0717E/

[Ezikial Anta]

So that means... we are technicaly getting faster by getting slower? I fail to understand what that means...

[Jeffry]

It means that Sony is getting more proprietary.

[Ezikial Anta]

Figures!!

[orol]

jeffry: i guess you are right

[mkrueger]

I really hope those support components (DSP, AV stuff) really blaze, because 133Mhz is kind of pushing it for what will probably be a $700 PDA in the US.

I'm the first one to say the Mhz doe NOT equal speed....but 8Mhz to 133Mhz will have to be seen....

($700 estimate based on $600 Japan price plus usual extra $100 for US market)

[contempt]

I can't read tech marketing speak. So in real world usage, how would this compare to the Intel ARM processors? Does this also mean that all future CLIE's will begin using the Sony Handheld Engine? It sure sounds that way.

[Massman82]

Proprietary could also mean lower price because they do not need to pay Intel for their processors. Of course it all depends on if Sony is generous enough to pass these savings to the consumer.

[outdoor]

Of course it all depends on if Sony is generous enough to pass these savings to the consumer.

do you think Sony will ever do that ??? :D

[Sony Employee]

Originally posted by outdoor


do you think Sony will ever do that ??? :D

No. Not a chance. Never. :D

[ccelada]

This could actually mean better performance, since the CPU is being designed especifically for the CLIE...

[Massman82]

Originally posted by Sony Employee


No. Not a chance. Never. :D

Honestly, I think there is a chance...the market right now is tough and they want to price their products right. If they had a monopoly on this business then I would probably agree with you.

[ayasin]

Originally posted by ccelada
This could actually mean better performance, since the CPU is being designed especifically for the CLIE...

I'm not really clear on what that means...designed especially for the clie. Specifically how would the chip be designed different than if it were designed for say a Palm handheld or a Smartphone? There's already a pretty specific instruction architecture that ARM processors have to follow so there should be nothing new there. I'm interested in what the instruction pipeline looks like. How many stages is it? How does is handle stalls? How good is it at preventing pipeline stalls? What is the cache size...both code and data? How are these caches filled? This will tell more about how this processor will perform in the real world vs an XScale processor more so than just a MHz rating.

[PEG-SJ30]

What the hell is wrong with the processor being "proprietary"? It's not like you have much of a choice in swapping it out, or something. The HHEngine is an ARM-compliant CPU + DRAM + DSP + USB all in one chip. This is what it takes to lower the power consumption of today's wireless handhelds. Eventually, this technology will trickle down to low-end SJ handhelds, and they will boast tremendous increases in battery life.

Make what you will about Sony and their evil MemoryStick, but don't slam down their key advancements in technology.

[megazone]

Yeah, it is as 'proprietary' as the Motorola DragonBall ARM CPU which has integrated other features, etc. Sony just decided to build a system on a chip, they're doing the same thing with the PS2 now as well. Fewer parts, lower power consumption, better performance, lower cost.

It'll be interesting to see if they offer the CPU for other vendors, and if anyone bites.

[a_clie_er]

Ive read an article about Sony developing a "Cell" base chips. Those Cell chips will have integrated cpus ... kinda of like 1 cpu with many other cpus. This Cell cpu is suppose to be use on the Playstation 3.. but one has to wonder it might eventurally be incorporated in CLIEs.. sometime in the future.

Here some info on the CELL cpu technology
http://www.designchain.com/coverstory.asp?issue=spring03

The Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/17968.html

[n2ifp]

I know Megahertz is not the only criteria, but it remains to be seen, performance wise.

[Earthling]

From http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-1026989.html:
The device is also noteworthy because it is the first handheld to use a chip developed by Sony in the same Nagasaki plant where it is manufacturing the chip that will power the upcoming Sony PlayStation 3 game console.Don't know if this means a future CLIE/Playstation convergence, though...

BTW, the article also says the UX50's U.S. release date will be early September.

[ashVID]

Here is the problem... Sony likes to do this kind of thing but it makes it a PAIN IN THE @ss for developers. PS2 is a great example, even after being out FOR YEARS they still have not tapped the potential of what it actually CAN do. These press releases are not meant to be objective.

All this mean to be is that third party software to use ANY of the hardware features will be impossible (it already is very limited). Having a processor that is proprietary is fine but 3rd party apps not optimized for it will SUCK and run slow... good luck getting game developers to optimize for such a niche... like I said a million times, I am waiting for OS6...


ash =o)

[pmckean]

As the last poster has said, proprietary features make life difficult for programmers. If only Palm were a little more progressive. Sony clearly leads the way in innovative PalmOS design - for software, hardware and design.

Beyond his points, though, if this is Sony's CPU, presumably it isn't compativle with existing software (other than emulating the Dragonball stuff, maybe).

This might mean that all native OS5 stuff coded for Intel ARM chips doesn't function unless recompiled for the new software.

There are two scenarios:

1. This IS basically an Intel ARM chip (i.e. compatible), augmented and integrated with other components by Sony. In which case you shouldn't expect it Mhz for Mhz to be any faster than Intel's efforts - bad news because it maxes out at 123Mhz.

2. This ISN'T Intel's design, it's a brand new ARM chip, in which case we won't know comparative performance until it's released, but none of the software will work until compilers are updated to function for the new chip. That won't be quickly. Sony have been slow at releasing current APIs.

Also, programs that overclock the CPU to run faster at the expense of battery life aren't going to appear for the new platform because the hardware on the new chip adjusts the CPU speed up and down all the time!

[TheSpies]

Originally posted by a_clie_er
This Cell cpu is suppose to be use on the Playstation 3

From the first link you gave:

"Although Sony refuses to talk about its future plans for the chip, it does admit that the Cell chip will not be the CPU in the Playstation3, reportedly slated for release in 2005."

[a_clie_er]

opps thx for pointing that out... too much reading past day eyes gone crossed...