March 01, 2000

IT8172 -- the ultra RISC Companion Chip
for the IA (Internet Appliance) product design

For the post PC era, the most popular product would be the IA (Internet Appliance). The most important concept of IA from an engineering viewpoint is that, the Internet capability portion is delivered by a “computer” inside, usually the “computer” is RISC based for the economical reasons.

For example, a typical IA, Set Top Box = “Computer” + “multi-media” processor; a Game Machine = “Computer” + “3D graphics processor” and so on. ITE plays the most important role in the computer portion of the IA function. ITE is traditionally talent in the “core logic”, so called the “chip set” technology; now utilize its newest technologies, provides a “Super Core Logic” device to support the computer in an IA device.

The new IT8172 deliveries multiple, glue-less RISC processor connection, supports MIPS 5 and 4 series processors of NEC Vr5432, Vr4310, and QED RM5231; for other RISC processors it supports Hitachi SH4 (7750) series processors.

For all the bus control functions, IT8172 provides SDRAM host controller for up to 100MHz operation, 68K peripheral bus, Flash/ROM bus for large capacity support, PCI host bus controller, USB host controller. On the peripheral side, IT8172 offers the most popular features, such as CIR, serial port, parallels port, and smart card readers.

IT8172 is specially designed for the IA products. The features provided are more appliance centered; for example, the 68K bus provides full flexibility on the front-end (cable modem, QPSK, QAM, tuner) devices selection, the multiple CIR (for KB/mouse) and smart card interfaces with user in a complete different way.

Currently, the IT8172 is the most popular system logic device for the new generation IA design. IT8172 is Windows CE compatible, ITE has developed Windows CE driver at revision 2.12, and will support Microsoft TV platform.

IT8172 comes with 400 PBGA, currently at sampling stage and will get into production in July.