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NURNBERG, Germany, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- EEMBC, the embedded microprocessor benchmark consortium, today announced the publication of the first certified processor scores based on simulation techniques and obtained using new EEMBC rules for testing pre-silicon designs. Scores for Tensilica's Xtensa III processor, the first intellectual property core technology to achieve EEMBC certification, are available now on the EEMBC Web site at www.eembc.org.

Previously, the publication of EEMBC benchmark scores required that the tests be performed on production silicon. The new rules allow IP vendors such as Tensilica, which represent more than 50% of EEMBC's membership, to publish scores based on simulation, provided that a set of strict rules established by EEMBC are followed in the benchmarking process and that scores are identified as being based on simulation rather than on an actual chip.

``The publication of the Tensilica scores is a milestone for EEMBC,'' said Markus Levy, EEMBC President. ``IP vendors are a growing and important part of the processor market, and EEMBC's recognized method for measuring the performance of their cores will allow them to provide much more meaningful information about future processor architectures than has been possible until now. To that extent, we're anxious to see the benchmark scores of other EEMBC members demonstrating the capabilities of their intellectual property.''

Tensilica's Xtensa III was benchmarked in its basic ``out-of-the-box'' and optimized (full-fury) configurations using three application-specific areas: consumer, networking, and telecommunications. The optimized configurations followed the same methods routinely used by Tensilica customers to optimize Xtensa processors for their designs within specific applications. Tensilica's optimized processor and scores set an ideal example of the value of EEMBC benchmarks allowing a processor vendor to demonstrate real-world performance.

Following EEMBC's standard protocol, EEMBC Certification Labs (ECL) in Austin, Texas carefully analyzed and certified Tensilica's scores and processor configurations. The elaborate process employed by EEMBC through ECL ensures repeatable and reliable benchmark results.

The new EEMBC regulations for simulation benchmarking require that the simulator accurately reflect real-world characteristics with cycle accuracy. Both hardware and software simulations are allowed. Vendors must provide a simulation of a processor system with all resources needed to run the timed portions of the benchmark suite, rather than just the processor core. ECL also verifies this simulation environment during the certification process.

NOTE: VISIT EEMBC AT EMBEDDED SYSTEMS 2001 WITHIN GREEN HILLS SOFTWARE STAND 09, HALL 12

About Tensilica

Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address the fast-growing market for configurable microprocessor cores and software development tools for high volume, embedded systems. Using the company's proprietary Xtensa Processor Generator, system-on-chip (SOC) designers can develop a processor subsystem hardware design and a complete software development tool environment tailored to their specific requirements in hours.

Tensilica's solutions provide a proven, easy-to-use methodology that enables designers to achieve optimum application performance in minimum design time. The Company has over 120 engineers engaged in research, development, and customer support from its offices in Santa Clara, California; Burlington, Massachusetts; Princeton, NJ; Houston, Texas; Oxford, U.K.; Yokohama, Japan; and Stockholm, Sweden.

Tensilica is headquartered in Santa Clara, California (95054) at 3255-6 Scott Boulevard, and can be reached at (408) 986-8000 or via www.tensilica.com on the World Wide Web.

About EEMBC

Providing the embedded industry fair and certified benchmarks grounded in real-world applications, EEMBC is composed of more than 40 of the world's leading and most influential semiconductor and intellectual property companies. EEMBC members are committed to helping customers get product easier and faster through fair benchmarking and establishment of industry standards. Benchmarking fairness is provided through the EEMBC Certification Labs with offices in Texas and California. Certified benchmarking results are posted on the EEMBC Web site at www.eembc.org/benchmark.

EEMBC standards specify 46 different benchmarks, each representing a different workload and stressing a different processor capability. Benchmark suites are organized to test devices for performance in automotive/industrial, networking, consumer, and office automation applications. Simulation-based, certified benchmark scores are published in a separate section from hardware-based certified benchmark scores on the EEMBC Web site (www.eembc.org).

EEMBC members include Altera, AMD, ARC, ARM, Analog Devices Inc., ATI Technologies, BOPS, Cadence, Conexant Systems, DSP Group, Equator Technologies, FlexSilicon, Fujitsu Microelectronics, Green Hills Software, Hitachi America Ltd., Improv Systems, IBM Corporation, Imsys, Infineon Technologies, Integrated Device Technology, Intel, Lucent, Metaware, Metrowerks, Microchip Technology, MIPS Technologies Inc., Mitsubishi, Motorola, National Semiconductor, NEC, Panasonic, Philips, QED, SandCraft, STMicroelectronics, Siroyan Ltd., Sun Microsystems, 3DSP, Tensilica, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, Transmeta, Trimedia, and Wind River (DIAB).

For further information please contact Markus Levy of EEMBC, voice, 530-672-9113, fax, 530-672-9103, markus@eembc.org; or Bob Decker of Wall Street Communications, voice, 415-409-0233, fax, 650-618-1512, bob.decker@wallstcom.com, for EEMBC.