ARC HS Processor Family

Meeting Increasing Processor Performance Requirements in High-End Embedded Applications

Hear Paul Stravers, Principal R&D Engineer, describe how the ARC HS6x superscalar architecture can deliver performance, scalability and flexibility to address increasing performance requirements for a variety of high-end embedded applications.

Maximum Performance for Embedded Applications

The latest additions to the ARC® HS family, the 32-bit ARC HS5x and 64-bit HS6x processors, are based on the new ARCv3 instruction set architecture (ISA). The previous generation HS processors, based on the efficient ARCv2 instruction set architecture (ISA), include the HS3x, HS4x, and DSP-enhanced HS4xD processors. All HS processors support closely coupled memories (CCMs), which enable single-cycles access to instructions and data.

HS processors are optimized for GHz+ operating speeds with minimum area and power consumption, making them ideally suited for embedded applications with very high-performance requirements. The HS processors are available in single-core, dual-core and quad-core configurations.

The ARC HS processors are supported by a broad ecosystem of commercial and open-source tools, operating systems, and middleware. This includes offerings from leading industry vendors who are members of the ARC Access Program as well as a comprehensive suite of free and open source software available through the embARC.org website.

ARC Software Development Platforms:

ARC Development Tools and Software:

ARC processors are optimized to deliver the best PPA efficiency in the industry for embedded SoCs.

  • Harvard architecture for higher performance through simultaneous instruction and data memory access
  • High-speed pipeline designed for maximum power efficiency
  • 32-bit RISC engine offers a mixed 16-bit/32-bit instruction set for greater code density

ARC processors are highly configurable, allowing designers to optimize the performance, power, and area of each processor instance on their SoC.

  • Add or omit hardware features to optimize the core for your target application - no wasted gates
  • The ARChitect wizard enables drag-and-drop configuration of the core

ARC Processors EXtension (APEX) technology enables users to customize their processor implementation. 

  • Add user-defined instructions to accelerate software execution and reduce code size, reducing energy consumption and memory requirements
  • Tightly couple memories and peripherals to the processors to eliminate the need for additional bus infrastructure, reducing area and latency and increasing system-level performance