SiFive, a RISC-V processor design agency, unveiled two new chip designs geared toward bringing a high-performance computing answer to numerous industries.
The announcement of the SiFive Efficiency P870 and SiFive Intelligence X390 occurred at an in-person press and analyst occasion in Santa Clara, California. SiFive designs chips primarily based on the open RISC-V structure, which competes with architectures from Arm and Intel.
The SiFive Efficiency P870 and SiFive Intelligence X390 supply low energy consumption, compute density, and vector compute functionality. These processors purpose to supply a major efficiency increase for data-intensive computing functions within the fields of client electronics, automotive know-how, and infrastructure.
SiFive executives highlighted the corporate’s dedication to driving high-performance RISC-V innovation and bridging the hole with different instruction set architectures. They emphasised the fast enlargement of the RISC-V ecosystem, which is fueled by the rising demand for semiconductors in sectors akin to client electronics and infrastructure.
SiFive CEO Patrick Little mentioned in a press release, “The flexibleness of SiFive’s RISC-V options permits firms to deal with the distinctive computing necessities of those segments and capitalize on the momentum round generative AI, the place we’ve seen double-digit design wins, and for different cutting-edge functions.”
The SiFive Efficiency P870 is designed for high-performance client functions and can be used alongside a vector processor in knowledge facilities. It units a brand new customary for RISC-V efficiency when it comes to instruction set structure availability, throughput, parallelism, and reminiscence bandwidth.
With a 50% peak single-thread efficiency improve over earlier SiFive Efficiency processors, the P870 encompasses a six-wide out-of-order core and a shared cluster cache that permits as much as a 32-core cluster.
The SiFive Intelligence X390 builds upon the success of its predecessor, the SiFive Intelligence X280, in combining AI and ML functions with {hardware} accelerators for cellular, infrastructure, and automotive functions.
The X390 presents a four-fold enchancment in vector computation with its single-core configuration, doubled vector size, and twin vector ALUs. This results in quadruple the quantity of sustained knowledge bandwidth. The SiFive Vector Coprocessor Interface eXtension (VCIX) permits firms so as to add their very own vector directions and/or acceleration {hardware}, offering unprecedented flexibility and efficiency enhancement.
SiFive’s mixed answer of the P870 and X390, together with a high-performance NPU cluster, supplies product designers with an agile and programmable answer for generative AI functions. This answer presents superior compute density, low energy consumption, and distinctive flexibility for advanced workloads.
SiFive highlighted the robust curiosity from prospects in these mixed options, with a number of attaining success in silicon growth and commercialization utilizing high-performance SiFive merchandise.
The corporate continues to collaborate with companions throughout the ecosystem to make sure that software program, safety, and suppleness advantages of the open customary RISC-V ecosystem are available for SiFive processors, enabling firms to commercialize their SiFive-powered merchandise.
SiFive is likely one of the pioneers of RISC-V and it mentioned it’s dedicated to remodeling the way forward for computing by harnessing the limitless potential of RISC-V for high-performance and data-intensive functions. Little mentioned in a press briefing that the agency has raised a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} and has over 500 staff in a number of places.
He mentioned the corporate has 350 design wins and prospects embody Intel, Amazon, Qualcomm, Samsung, Google, NASA and extra. SiFive began within the embedded market and moved up the meals chain to high-performance cores.
“These prospects helped us earn our means,” Little mentioned. “Even once we promote high-performance cores, plenty of firms will want embedded cores too.”
He mentioned the prior P600-Collection is the highest-performing RISC-V processor you can license.
“We transport these in quantity,” he mentioned.
As for competitors, Little mentioned it’s a two-horse race between SiFive and Arm. He famous each one among Arm’s prime prospects are additionally SiFive’s prime prospects. Particularly in cellular. It might take a number of years to bear full fruit, however he famous the SiFive chips have 30% to 40% higher energy effectivity and compute density than Arm.
Arm has been round for many years and it just lately went public at a valuation of $54.5 billion. Little mentioned RISC-V is the fastest-growing software program ecosystem.