... home ...
coldfire: Definition and Recommended Links
Our favorite links for this topic area. Enjoy, fellow researchers! Questions, comments, new links? Email eewindow@aol.com!. Our favorite links for this topic area. Enjoy, fellow researchers! Questions, comments, new links? Email eewindow@aol.com!. The Freescale ColdFire is a 68k architecture microprocessor manufactured for embedded systems development by Freescale Semiconductor (formerly the semiconductor sector of Motorola).
The ColdFire instruction set is 'assembly source' compatible (by means of translation software available from the vendor) and not entirely object code compatible with the 68000. When compared to classic 68k hardware, the instruction set differs mainly in that it no longer has support for the binary-coded decimal (BCD) packed data format; it removes a number of other, less used instructions; and most instructions that are kept support fewer addressing modes. Presumably this results in a simpler and lower cost instruction decoder. Also, floating point intermediates are 64 bits and not 80 bits as in the 68881 and 68882. The instructions are only 16, 32, or 48 bits long, a simplification compared to the 68000 series.
Newer models of ColdFire are compatible enough with 68k processors that it is now possible to create binary compatible Amiga clones[1]. The Debian project is currently working on making its m68k port compatible with the ColdFires[2], as there are ColdFire models that are much faster than the 68060. They can be clocked as high as 300MHz, compared with 75MHz for a 68060[3] (the fastest 'real' m68k processor) without overclocking.
Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldfire)
other great electronics sites:ee toolbox site
coldfire The Freescale ColdFire is a 68k architecture microprocessor manufactured for embedded systems development by Freescale Semiconductor (formerly the semiconductor sector of Motorola). The ColdFire instruction set is 'assembly source' compatible (by means of translation software available from the vendor) and not entirely object code compatible with the 68000. When compared to classic 68k hardware, the instruction set differs mainly in that it no longer has support for the binary-coded decimal (BCD) packed data format; it removes a number of other, less used instructions; and most instructions that are kept support fewer addressing modes. Presumably this results in a simpler and lower cost instruction decoder. Also, floating point intermediates are 64 bits and not 80 bits as in the 68881 and 68882. The instructions are only 16, 32, or 48 bits long, a simplification compared to the 68000 series.
Newer models of ColdFire are compatible enough with 68k processors that it is now possible to create binary compatible Amiga clones[1]. The Debian project is currently working on making its m68k port compatible with the ColdFires[2], as there are ColdFire models that are much faster than the 68060. They can be clocked as high as 300MHz, compared with 75MHz for a 68060[3] (the fastest 'real' m68k processor) without overclocking.
Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldfire)
(Note: The Electronic Engineers Toolbox provides an alternative set of featured links for this word at http://www.cera2.com/coldfire.htm)
Explanation: these links are provided as part of our EE glossary project, which seeks to identify the most prominent keywords in embedded systems, embedded software, realtime and rtos, dsp (digital signal processing), system-on-a-chip, microprocessors and microcontrollers, and other constituent elements for embedded systems. While we seek to keep most of the links up-to-date, the user is refered to other primary electronic-based search sites such as: cera2.com, embedded.com, or EDN Magazine. If you have any suggestions of links or definitions, please email!
Mark Twain quote for the day:
Essentially, nobilities are foolishness, but if I were a citizen where they prevail I would do my best to get a title, for the consideration it furnishes- that is what we want. In Republics we strive for it with the surest means we have- money.
- Mark Twain's Notebook #40, (Jan. 1897-July 1900)