SHARC-based Processor Boards

FT-2106x-PCI Multiprocessor Board

The FT-2106x-PCI board is a member of Alacron's family of high performance computing subsystems based on Analog Devices' ADSP-2106x SHARC (Super Harvard ARChitecture Computer) processor. The FT-2106x-PCI incorporates an array of up to eight SHARC processors and a unique architecture resulting in a low power, low cost, high performance compute accelerator. And Alacron's FT-2106x-PCI delivers high levels of performance for imaging, graphics, simulation, DSP, document processing and pattern recognition applications making it ideal for adding scalable compute capability to existing systems, or for developing new systems from the ground up.

• FT2106x-PCI Features
• ADSP-2106x SHARC Processor Array
• Performance
• Growth Rate
• FastTrack Interface
• Technical Specifications

FT2106x-PCI Features

• 1, 2, 4, or 8 SHARC processor array
• Intel i960 control processor
• 960 MFLOPS peak performance
• 640 MFLOPS sustained
• 160 MB/sec peak local memory I/O
• Dedicated dual ported RAM
• Up to 128 MB global RAM
• FastTrack connection to I/O and processor daughter-cards
• PCI master/slave/DMA interface, 132 MB/sec (peak)

ADSP-2106x SHARC Processor Array

The FT-2106x employs a buffered DMA local memory architecture which allows up to 8 processors in the SHARC array to run at "full throttle." Each SHARC processor has 1 MB of private dual-ported DRAM, and the SHARC array is isolated from the system bus by a 160 MB/sec DMA engine. The SHARC array is thus shielded from the impact of bus traffic and data movement. A separate Intel i960 control processor provides operating system functions, services interrupts, and controls bus traffic and data I/O, off-loading the SHARC array for data processing functions.

Alacron's FT-2106x-PCI computing subsystems use an innovative dual-ported memory interface between the control processor and a bank of Analog Devices ADSP-2106x processors to minimize the impact of data movement on processing by both the SHARC's and the host. In the SIMD mode, Alacron's application libraries distribute problems over several processors. All SHARC processors can access their private RAM banks at 80 MB/sec simultaneously. In MIMD processing mode, tasks are distributed to individual SHARC processors with Alacron's RT Operating Environment controlling multiple threads.

Performance

The FT-2106x-VME series offers excellent performance of compute intensive algorithms. Representative performance measurement for specific SIMD algorithms from Alacron's libraries are shown:

Growth Path

The FT-2106x boards provide a growth path for applications developed on the AL-860 and FT-200 subsystems.

Each ADSP-2106x SHARC processor provides:

• 40 MIPS
• 120 MFLOPS (A+B, A-B)
• 48/32 bit data bus
• 1, 2, or 4 Mb on chip SRAM
• DMA controller
• 2 serial ports (40 Mb/sec)
• 6 link ports (240 MB/sec)
• SIMD and MIMD operation
• Concurrent DMA and computation

SHARC Array Processors for the PCI Bus

FT-2106x Daughter Card

Alacron's FT-2106x-DC daughter-card provides a SHARC processor array identical to those on the FT-2106x-PCI and FT-2106x-VME boards. It connects to a FastTrack interface on either the FT-2106x-PCI or FT-2106x-VME board. Several FT-2106x daughter-cards can be stacked, providing GFLOPS in a single VME slot.

FastTrack Interface

Alacron provides a complete family of high-performance FastTrack daughter-cards to allow sufficient speed and buffering for intensive I/O and display, and to support a wide range of third-party solutions.  FastTrack interfaces include:

• High Performance Digital (Camera) Interface
• Analog Framegrabber
• High Performance Digital I/O Interface
• DT-Connect Interface
• SCSI Interface
• VISIONbus Interface
• Video Display Adapter
• VSB Interface

Technical Specifications

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