Last change: 1999-06-08
Logical design is complete - E2k is in Verilog RTL. ILP compiler is ready (The compiler team has been working on the compiler for over 10 years, and the current compiler version is the third for this period of time). Binary translator is ready (Couple years ago Elbrus has demonstrated Windows95 and MS FlightSimulator running on UltraSPARC/167MHz).
In a 0.18-micron six-layer-metal process the E2k will run at 1.2 GHz and deliver 135 SPECint95 and 350 SPECfp95, yet it will require only 35 W of power and 126 mm2 of silicon. In a similar (0.18 micron) process Merced will operate at 800 MHz and deliver only 45 SPECint95 and 70 SPECfp95 in 300 mm2 of silicon at 60W.
Babaian says E2k compiler parallelizing abilities will be improved soon and estimations of E2k performance will increase to 170 SPECint95 and 400 SPECfp95 (these estimations are measured running SPEC benchmarks on E2k simulator).
One of Russian institute bought mini-fab which will use 0.35 micron process technology on Applied Materials kit. Elbrus is going to use this mini-fab to test and to refine E2k architecture. Also very possible some number of E2k/0.35/600MHz will be produced for Russian Government (for military, more precisely). Estimated perfomance of this variant of E2k is 85 SPECint95 and 200 SPECfp95 or so. This variant will have less transisors - some cashes will be reduced.
Sample production of E2k/0.18/1.2GHz is expected to begin in Q4 2000, serial production - in Q4 2001.
Recently Babaian was in Germany. He negotiated with Infineon (Infineon belongs to Siemens) about production of E2k. I don't know result yet. But I know the fact that Babaian was offered to produce E2k on the basis of 0.13 micron - it is under development in Infenion (jointly with Motorola) currently. 0.13 will allow E2k to run at 1.7 GHz.