Freescale's AltiVec technology expands the capabilities of microprocessors built on Power Architecture by providing leading-edge, general-purpose processing performance while concurrently addressing high-bandwidth data processing and algorithmic-intensive computations in a single-chip solution.
Traditionally, many high-performance applications have contained a combination of a single microprocessor performing the system control function and off-chip devices based on one or more other architectures, such as a DSP farm or custom ASICs, to perform specialized computations. AltiVec technology enables a class of processors that drives the convergence of these technologies. AltiVec technology provides embedded and computing system designers with a new "one part-one code base" approach to product design. Because this integrated solution is still 100% compatible with the industry-standard Power Architecture technology, design and support are simplified, and the development barriers inherent to multiple architecture designs are eliminated. System designers and their customers will benefit through faster time-to-market and lower total system development cost while simultaneously enjoying a tremendous jump in performance.
