Overview

De-Facto Standard in Customizable Processors

Cadence Tensilica Xtensa processors combine the best of CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, and dedicated custom RTL in ASICs/SoCs and enable the development of energy-efficient domain-specific processors that offer high performance, flexibility for future-proofing, and more importantly, can be tailored for your specific application requirements. Xtensa processors are based on a modular, highly flexible 32-bit RISC architecture that can easily scale from a tiny, cache-less controller or task engine to a high-performance SIMD/VLIW DSP. Furthermore, to facilitate the development of SoCs for functional safety, the Xtensa architecture supports a windowed watchdog timer (WWDT) and FlexLock including dual-core lockstep (DCLS).

Key Benefits

Innovation & Differentiation

Create unique differentiated hardware tailored to specific application requirements for optimal performance and energy efficiency

Future-proof your design

Programming flexibility for OTA updates to enable innovation that results in frequent algorithm updates

Unmatched Ease of Extensibility

Increased computational and I/O performance by executing multiple independent instructions in parallel and using wide I/O datapaths for virtually unlimited bandwidth

Features

  • Efficient real-time 32-bit base Xtensa processor architecture
  • Configurable instruction and data caches and local memories
  • New for Xtensa LX8: Flexible L2 memory option that can significantly reduce cache miss penalty
  • Choose from pre-verified application-specific DSP ISAs
  • Click-box IEEE 754-compliant single- and double-precision floating-point options
  • Choice of low-power features
  • Extensibility with application-specific instructions, execution units, register files, and I/Os
  • New for Xtensa LX8: Enhanced AMBA interfaces including native AMBA 4 AXI and APB interface options
  • New for Xtensa LX8: Improved branch prediction with configurable branch target buffer
  • New for Xtensa LX8: Low-latency integrated DMA (iDMA) controller with extended addressing and zero-value decompression
  • Industry-standard debug features like JTAG and multi-core debug support
  • Compatible with Arm CoreSight debug and trace technology
  • Processor-specific software, tools, and models generated automatically
  • C/C++ compiler with proven auto-vectorizing capabilities
  • ISO 26262 compliant: Certified as ASIL-compliant and equipped with both hardware and software safety mechanisms

Products

Xtensa LX Processor Platform

Xtensa NX Processor Platform

Partners

Cadence, through its Tensilica processor IP, brings together best-in-class products and services from industry leaders to help you accelerate the development of your SoC designs while meeting your demanding power and performance requirements. Browse the list of Tensilica processor IP service partners below.

Browse Partners

Technologies

Functional Safety for Automotive

Cadence is committed to enabling Functional Safety applications across the Tensilica processor lineup, whether it's an off-the-shelf processor/DSP IP or a custom domain-specific processor for a specific application

Learn More

Tensilica Processor Technology

Differentiate, reduce time to market, add flexibility, and get the best performance, power, and area

Learn More

TIE

Customize your DSPs/processors for optimized performance, energy efficiency, and differentiation

Learn More

Development Toolchain

Create a perfect match for your application, guaranteed correct by construction

Learn More

Training & Support

Need Help?

Cadence is committed to keeping design teams highly productive with a range of support offerings and processes designed to keep users focused on reducing time to market and achieving silicon success.

Free Software Evaluation

Try our SDK Software Development Toolkit for 15 days absolutely free. We want to show you how easy it is to use our Eclipse-based IDE.

Apply Now

Training

The Training Learning Maps link opens in new tab help you get a comprehensive visual overview of learning opportunities.
Training News - Subscribe link opens in new tab

Browse TRAINING

Online Support

The Cadence Online Support (COS) system fields our entire library of accessible materials for self-study and step-by-step instruction.

Request Support

Xtensa Processor Generator (XPG)

The Xtensa Processor Generator (XPG) is the heart of our technology - the patented cloud-based system that creates your correct-by-construction processor and all associated software, models, etc. (Login Required)

Launch XPG

Technical Forums

Find community on the technical forums to discuss and elaborate on your design ideas.

Find Answers

Resources