QorIQ Communications Platforms
P4 Series Multicore Processors
Overview
Freescale QorIQ communications platforms are the next-generation evolution
of our leading PowerQUICC communications processors. Built using highperformance Power Architecture® cores, QorIQ platforms enable a new era of
networking innovation where the reliability, security and quality of service for
every connection matters.
QorIQ P4080 Multicore Processor
in 45 nm technology, is designed to deliver
The QorIQ P4080 multicore processor, the
high-performance, next-generation networking
first product offered in the QorIQ P4 platform
services in a very low power envelope.
series, delivers industry-leading performance
The QorIQ P4080 processor is designed for
in the under 30-watt power category. It
combined control and dataplane processing,
combines eight Power Architecture e500mc
enabling high-performance layers 2–7
cores operating at frequencies up to 1.5 GHz
processing. Its high level of integration offers
with high-performance datapath acceleration
significant performance benefits compared to
logic, as well as networking I/O and other
multiple discrete devices, while also greatly
peripheral bus interfaces. The P4080, built
simplifying board design.
QorIQ
QorIQ
P4080/P4040/P4081
P4080/P4040/P4081
Block Diagram Block Diagram
Power Architecture®
e500mc Core
128 KB Backside
L2 Cache
32 KB
D-Cache
32 KB
I-Cache
Security Fuse Processor
PAMU
2x USB 2.0 w/ULPI
eLBC
SEC
4.0
Queue
Mgr.
PME
2.0
Buffer
Mgr.
SD/MMC
PAMU
1024 KB
CoreNet
Platform Cache
64-bit
DDR2/3
Memory Controller with ECC
Peripheral Access
PAMU Management Unit
PAMU
Frame Manager
Frame Manager
Parse, Classify,
Distribute
Parse, Classify,
Distribute
2x DUART
4x I2C
64-bit
DDR2/3
Memory Controller with ECC
CoreNet Coherency Fabric
Security Monitor
Power Management
1024 KB
CoreNet
Platform Cache
PCIe
10 G
SPI, GPIO
1G 1G
1G 1G
10 G
Real-Time Debug
2x DMA
PCIe
PCIe
1G 1G
Watchpoint
Cross
Trigger
sRIO
sRIO
Perf.
Monitor
Aurora
1G 1G
18 Lanes, 5 GHz SerDes
Core Complex (CPU, L2 and Frontside CoreNet Platform Cache)
Accelerators and Memory Control
Networking Elements
P4080 and P4081 Only
P4080 and P4040 Only
Trace
Basic Peripherals and Interconnect
QorIQ P4080 Technical
Specifications
The processor is well suited for applications
Advanced virtualization technology brings a
that are highly compute intensive, I/O
new level of hardware partitioning through
intensive or both. This makes it ideal for
an embedded hypervisor that allows system
applications such as enterprise and service
developers to ensure software running on any
provider routers, switches, media gateways,
CPU only accesses the resources (memory,
base station controllers, radio network
peripherals, etc.) that it is explicitly authorized
controllers (RNCs), access gateways for
to access. The embedded hypervisor enables
long-term evolution (LTE) and general-
safe and autonomous operation of multiple
purpose embedded computing systems in
individual operating systems, allowing them to
the networking, telecom, industrial, aerospace
share system resources, including processor
Independent boot and reset
and defense markets.
cores, memory and other on-chip functions.
Secure boot capability
Key Features
Freescale delivers a groundbreaking three-
Ecosystem and Developer
Environment
tiered cache hierarchy on the QorIQ P4
Developers creating solutions with Power
platform. Each core has an integrated level 1
Architecture technology have long benefited
(L1) cache as well as a dedicated level 2 (L2)
from a vibrant support ecosystem, including
backside cache that can significantly improve
high-quality tools, OSes and network protocol
performance. Finally, a multi-megabyte level 3
stacks. Freescale has collaborated with our
800 Gb/s coherent read bandwidth
(L3) cache is also provided for those tasks for
partners on the QorIQ P4080 processor to
which a shared cache is desirable.
Queue manager fabric supporting
continue our strong ecosystem heritage. This
packet-level queue management and
helps to ensure that the best enablement
quality of service scheduling
The CoreNet coherency fabric is a key design
component of the QorIQ P4 platform. It
manages full coherency of the caches and
provides scalable on-chip, point-to-point
connectivity supporting concurrent traffic to
and from multiple resources connected to the
fabric, eliminating single-point bottlenecks
for non-competing resources. This eliminates
bus contention and latency issues associated
with scaling shared bus/shared memory
architectures that are common in other
multicore approaches.
The QorIQ P4080 multicore processor is
extremely flexible and can be configured
to meet many system application needs.
The processor’s e500mc cores, leveraging
advanced virtualization technology, can work as
eight symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) cores,
or eight completely asymmetric multiprocessing
(AMP) cores, or they can be operated with
varying degrees of independence with a
combination of SMP and AMP groupings. Full
processor independence, including the ability
to independently boot and reset each e500mc
core, is a defining characteristic of the device.
The ability of the cores to run different operating
systems (OS), or run OS-less, provides the user
with significant flexibility in partitioning between
control, datapath and applications processing.
It also simplifies consolidation of functions
previously spread across multiple discrete
processors onto a single device.
tools are available to cost-effectively meet the
unique development challenges of multicore
architectures and speed your time to market.
To this end, Freescale has partnered with
Virtutech to offer a robust, innovative hybrid
simulation environment that provides a
controlled, deterministic and fully reversible
environment for the development, debugging
and benchmarking of software for complex
multicore-based architectures. The hybrid
simulator combines Virtutech’s fast, functional
Simics™ model, with a detailed performance
model of the platform. This combination
enables fast hardware concept testing and
evaluation, as well as performance verification
and helps accelerate your development cycle,
provide more flexible debug capability and
improve the overall quality of your software.
Freescale has also engineered capabilities
into the QorIQ P4080 to enable advanced
debugging while working in tandem with
its ecosystem partners to assure availability
of tools that can take advantage of these
features. These capabilities include integrated
instruction trace, watchpoint triggers, crossevent triggers, performance monitoring and
other debug features as defined by the
Power® ISA. These features enable dynamic
debug essential for providing visibility into
complex interactions that may occur among
tasks running on different cores.
• Eight high-performance Power Architecture
e500mc cores, each with a 32 KB
instruction and data L1 cache and a
private 128 KB L2 cache
Three levels of instruction: user,
supervisor and hypervisor
• 2 MB shared L3 CoreNet platform cache
• Hierarchical interconnect fabric
CoreNet fabric supporting coherent
and non-coherent transactions with
prioritization and bandwidth allocation
amongst CoreNet end points
• Two 64-bit DDR2/DDR3 SDRAM
memory controllers with ECC and
interleaving support
• Datapath acceleration architecture
incorporating acceleration for the
following functions:
Packet parsing, classification and
distribution
Queue management for scheduling,
packet sequencing and congestion
management
Hardware buffer management for
buffer allocation and de-allocation
Cryptographic security acceleration
(SEC 4.0)
RegEx pattern matching (PME 2.0)
• Ethernet interfaces
Two 10 Gb/s Ethernet (XAUI)
controllers
Eight 1 Gb/s Ethernet (SGMII)
controllers
• High-speed peripheral interfaces
Three PCI Express® V2.0 controllers/
ports running at up to 5 GHz
Two Serial RapidIO® 1.2 controllers/
ports running at up to 3.125 GHz
• Additional peripheral interfaces
Two USB controllers with ULPI
interface to external PHY
SD/MMC
SPI controller
Four I2C controllers
Two dual UARTs
Enhanced local bus controller
• Multicore programmable interrupt controller
• Two 4-channel DMA engines
For more information about Virtutech Simics,
The P4080 was the flagship product for the
QorIQ family when it was first introduced to
the market. It provided the foundation upon
which the P5, P3, P2 and P1 processor
families were built. In addition, the P4 series
expanded its portfolio with the P4040 and
P4081 communications processors. These
processors provide the performance, power
and price necessary to meet a broad spectrum
of high-performance applications. The P4040
is pin-for-pin compatible with the P4080
processor, providing the same I/O functionality
and frequency as the P4080 but with fewer
cores. This is designed to provide the user with
a smaller power envelope footprint.
The P4081 addition brings high-performance
computing to a broader spectrum of
applications. Like the P4040, it is pin-for-pin
compatible to both the P4080 and P4040. It
contains eight cores, with each core capable
of supporting 1.2 GHz. At attractive price
and power points, this device expands the
possibilities of applications for high-performance
computing.
please visit virtutech.com.
P4 Series Chart
P4 QorIQ
Platform
Top Core
Frequency
L2 Size
DDR 2/3
Support
Serdes
PCI
Express
Controllers
8
16
3
2
Yes
8
16
3
2
Yes
16
3
1
Yes
Device
Core
GE Ports
P4
P4080
8
1500 MHz
1 MB
Dual 64-bit
P4
P4040
4
1500 MHz
512 KB
Dual 64-bit
P4
P4081
8
1200 MHz
1 MB
Dual 64-bit
8
10 GB
Ethernet
Ports
Trust
Architecture
For current information, please visit freescale.com/QorIQ
Freescale, the Freescale logo, PowerQUICC and QorIQ are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. &
Tm. Off. CoreNet is a trademark of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their
respective owners. The Power Architecture and Power.org word marks and the Power and Power.org logos and related marks
are trademarks and service marks licensed by Power.org. © 2008, 2014 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Document Number: QP4080FS REV 4