Sonics Unveils Industry's First IP Solution to Solve Memory Bottlenecks and Increase Memory Bandwidth Utilization

MemMax AMP Boosts Memory Bandwidth Utilization up to 85 Percent; Increases DRAM Efficiency without System Re-design

MILPITAS, Calif., — September 14, 2010 – Sonics, Inc.®, the world’s leading supplier of on-chip communications IP, introduced MemMax AMP™, the first standalone memory scheduler that optimizes memory bandwidth/DRAM scheduling on-chip in a single IP block.  MemMax AMP is the only on-chip memory IP solution that allows SoC designers and system architects to significantly boost memory bandwidth utilization from the average ~45-50 percent level up to 85 percent in some designs, without re-architecting the system design or changing the memory subsystem. 

MemMax AMP is ideally suited for complexSoCs used in next-generation products requiring high-bandwidth DRAM access, such as high-definition video streaming in smart phones, pad computers, personal media players, HDTVs, DVRs, set-top boxes, digital cameras and camcorders.  A highly sophisticated, dynamic memory scheduler, MemMax AMP allows designers to individually select the best performance/area result for their unique application and achieve superior memory efficiencies beyond basic scheduler or controller solutions alone.  MemMax AMP can easily be dropped into any standard AMBA AXI-based design as a fixed RTL block that seamlessly interfaces to all popular DRAM controllers—including DDR2, DDR3 and LPDDR. 

To maximize DRAM bandwidth today, most SoC designers have to increase their overall chip cost by adding faster or additional DRAM— more ports and pins to achieve their performance goal.  MemMax AMP allows designers to achieve optimal efficiency with an easy-to-add enhancement that delivers significant performance scalability without re-architecting any portion of the memory interface.   

“Memory bandwidth challenges and DRAM inefficiencies are longstanding issues for SoC and system designers,” said Rich Wawrzyniak, senior market analyst, ASIC & SoC at Semico Research Corp.  “Sonics’ MemMax AMP is a cost-sensitive, innovative approach for resolving memory bottlenecks on-chip in just a single IP block.  SoC designers want to increase memory bandwidth and performance without incremental costs.  MemMax AMP could serve as a low-cost, easy-to-use alternative for many chip designers with complex applications such as video streaming—which is so pervasive in today’s digital consumer entertainment devices.”  

“MemMax technology has long been integral to our on-chip communications strategy and today Sonics is the only IP company focused specifically on solving DRAM efficiency challenges,” said Jack Browne, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Sonics.  “While many companies are still focused heavily on the PHY, only Sonics is addressing memory subsystem design challenges to ensure maximum memory utilization and optimal bandwidth on-chip.” 

Browne added, “Advanced SoCs require a wide array of multiple processors and special- purpose processors all demanding simultaneous memory access.  Designers desperately need to alleviate memory congestion, and ensure memory efficiency and bandwidth are fully optimized.  MemMax AMP offers them a low-cost solution to easily harness additional raw bandwidth and maximize on-chip efficiencies by better managing existing bandwidth without having to re-architect the SoC.”

MemMax AMP Availability

MemMax AMP is available in single-port and multi-port configurations. Sonics is also developing additional technology to further ease the challenges of memory subsystem design and help SoC designers combat memory bottlenecks on-chip. For more information on MemMax AMP, visit http://www.sonicsinc.com/MemMax_AMP.htm.

About Sonics

Sonics, Inc. is a pioneer of network-on-chip (NoC) technology and today offers SoC designers the largest portfolio of intelligent, on-chip communications solutions for home entertainment, wireless, networking and mobile devices.  With a broad array of silicon-proven IP, Sonics helps designers eliminate memory bottlenecks associated with complex, high-speed SoC design, streamline and unify data flows and solve persistent network challenges in embedded systems with multiple cores.  As the leading supplier of on-chip communications networks for the embedded market, Sonics has enabled its customers to ship more than 750 million units worldwide.  Founded in 1996, Sonics is headquartered in Milpitas, Calif.with offices worldwide.  For more information, please visit www.sonicsinc.com and www.sonicsinc.com/blog.