RMI Alchemy™ Au1250™ Processor

Go Mobile. Go Global. Go Now.

The RMI Alchemy™ Au1250™ media processor extends the
strengths of the existing Alchemy processors into a broad range of
digital media applications.

Pin and Software Compatible

The Au1250 processor is pin- and software-compatible with the existing RMI Alchemy™ Au1200™ processor’s sockets and leverages the Au1200 processor’s success in Portable Media Players (PMPs), Automotive Infotainment and Digital Media Adapters (DMAs), by providing significantly increased performance while improving its power optimized advantages associated with the Alchemy processor family. The System-on-a-Chip (SoC) architecture allows system designers the
ability to implement full featured PMPs using the Alchemy processors
without the need for additional components.

Increased Performance and Lower Power

This elevated application processing performance, with remarkably
low power, makes the Au1250 processor ideally suited to the
expanding needs of multi-function Portable Media Players
(mPMPs). The Au1250 processor’s optimized design is tailored to
efficiently support multi-format video playback, GPS navigation,
mobile TV, satellite radio, along with photo viewers, digital cameras
and other applications in a single, low-cost, portable design.

700MHz Means More Available MIPS

The Au1250 processor at 700MHz provides 17% more CPU performance compared to the 600MHz version. When simultaneously playing full D1 video using the on-chip Media Acceleration Engine™, which off-loads video processing in hardware, the Au1250 processor delivers more Available MIPS for other user applications than have been possible in portable consumer devices. Users can now enjoy unprecedented processing performance for simultaneously running multiple diverse applications with substantially longer battery life than befor

Support for Large Block NAND Boot

Another advantage of the Au1250 processor is the expansion of
the memory implementation options that are available to a
designer. The Au1250 enables boot start-up directly from large
block NAND memories. Today’s large block, multi-level cell NAND
Flash memories are much denser than previously available, allowing
higher capacities and lower memory costs. Lower cost-per-bit
makes NAND Flash an attractive option for portable storage. The
Au1250 also recognizes this trend by supporting the access
requirements of large block NAND memories. System designers
now have the flexibility to boot from large or small block NAND as
well as NOR Flash memories.

Extended Temperature Versions

For systems with DDR2 memories, the Au1250 processor is available
in an extended temperature range option of -40ºC to 100ºC
for speeds up to 500MHz. This is well suited for select in-cabin
automotive applications, and other environments with more hostile
temperature requirements.

Transcoding Not Required

The RMI Alchemy Au1250 processor supports common digital video media, including MPEG, DivX, and WMV9, and delivers full
D1 resolution without the need to transcode content between PC
or PVR and the PMP. This reduces the time required to download
fresh content and helps enable consumers to take media “on the
go” faster and easier.

The Au1250 processor also leverages a unique approach to
DDR1 and DDR2 memory to deliver better overall performance
than SDRAM components. And, the Au1250 processor achieves
faster I/O via USB 2.0 to give designers a range of enhanced connectivity options.

No Need for DSPs

The RMI Alchemy Au1250 processor incorporates an integrated
Media Acceleration Engine optimized for video to eliminate the
need for DSPs and specialized coding. This means less overall
power consumption and a simplified design.
Video Codecs ported by RMI = Low Engagement Cost
Since RMI ports all video codecs that are supported by the onchip
Media Acceleration Engine, there is no need to engage
expensive 3rd party codec software development vendors. No
NRE, so OEMs/ODMs immediately realize a lower solution cost.

Primary features

The Au1250™ processor delivers:

• Customized MIPS32® Core
• 333, 400, 500, 600 and 700MHz
• 32-bit architecture
• 16KB instruct + 16KB data caches
• High-speed multiply-accumulate (MAC) and divide unit
• 1.2V core, 3.3V I/O

To view product briefs for the RMI Alchemy™ Au1250™ processor and associated development tools, please click on the links on the top right.