Geode (processor)

NSC Geode
	NSC Geode GXLV 233 MHz
General information
Launched	1999
Common manufacturer(s)	National Semiconductor ;
CPUID code	540h
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate	180 MHz to 400 MHz
FSB speeds	30 MHz to 33 MHz
Cache
L1 cache	16 KiB unified (GXm/GXLV/GX1), 16 KiB instruction + 16 KiB data (GX2)
Architecture and classification
Technology node	0.15 μm to 0.35 μm
Microarchitecture	5x86
Instruction set	IA-32
Extensions	MMX, 3DNow! (GX2);
Physical specifications
Cores	1;
Package(s)	BGA;
History
Predecessor(s)	Cyrix MediaGX

Last updated October 23, 2023

Geode was a series of x86-compatible system-on-a-chip (SoC) microprocessors and I/O companions produced by AMD, targeted at the embedded computing market.

The series was originally launched by National Semiconductor as the Geode family in 1999. The original Geode processor core itself is derived from the Cyrix MediaGX platform, which was acquired in National's merger with Cyrix in 1997. AMD bought the Geode business from National in August 2003 to augment its existing line of embedded x86 processor products. Before acquiring Geode, AMD marketed the AMD Élan, a family of 32-Bit embedded SoCs based on their own Am386, Am486 and Am586 microprocessors. All of these products have been backed with a long-term supply guarantee to meet the needs of embedded processors. However, after acquiring Geode, the product was suddenly discontinued.^[1]^[2]

AMD expanded the Geode series to two classes of processor: the MediaGX-derived Geode GX and LX, and the modern Athlon-derived Geode NX.

Geode processors are optimized for low power consumption and low cost while still remaining compatible with software written for the x86 platform. The MediaGX-derived processors lack modern features such as SSE and a large on-die L1 cache but these are offered on the more recent Athlon-derived Geode NX. Geode processors tightly integrate some of the functions normally provided by a separate chipset, such as the northbridge. Whilst the processor family is best suited for thin client, set top box and embedded computing applications, it can be found in unusual applications such as the Nao robot and the Win Enterprise IP-PBX.

The One Laptop per Child project used the GX series Geode processor in OLPC XO-1 prototypes, but moved to the Geode LX for production.^[3] The Linutop (rebranded Artec ThinCan DBE61C or rebranded FIC ION603A) is also based on the Geode LX. 3Com Audrey was powered by a 200 MHz Geode GX1.

The SCxxxx range of Geode devices are a single-chip version, comparable to the SiS 552, VIA CoreFusion or Intel's Tolapai, which integrate the CPU, memory controller, graphics and I/O devices into one package. Single processor boards based on these processors are manufactured by Artec Group, PC Engines (WRAP), Soekris, and Win Enterprises.

AMD discontinued all Geode processors in 2019.^[4]

Features

National Semiconductor Geode

Geode GXm

Rebranded Cyrix MediaGXm. Returns "CyrixInstead" on CPUID.

0.35 μm four-layer metal CMOS
MMX instructions
Core speed: 180, 200, 233, 266 MHz
3.3 V I/O, 2.9 V core
16 KB four-way set associative write-back unified (I&D) L1 cache, 2 or 4 KB of which can be reserved as I/O scratchpad RAM for use by the integrated graphics core (e.g. for bitblits)
30-33 MHz PCI bus interconnect with CPU bus
64-bit SDRAM interface
Fully static design
CS5530 companion chip (implements sound and video functions)
VSA architecture
1280×1024×8 or 1024×768×16 display

Geode GXLV

Die-shrunk GXm
0.25 μm four-layer metal CMOS
Core speed: 166, 180, 200, 233, 266 MHz
3.3 V I/O, 2.2, 2.5, 2.9 V core
Typical power: 1.0 W at 2.2 V/166 MHz, 2.5 W at 2.9 V/266 MHz

Geode GX1

Die-shrunk GXLV
0.18 μm four-layer metal CMOS
Core speed: 200, 233, 266, 300, 333 MHz
3.3 V I/O, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2 V core
Typical power: 0.8 W at 1.8 V/200 MHz, 1.4 W at 2.2 V/333 MHz
64-bit SDRAM interface, up to 111 MHz
CS5530A companion chip
60 Hz VGA refresh rate

National Semiconductor/AMD SC1100 is based on the Geode GX1 core and the CS5530 support chip.

Geode GX2

Announced by National Semiconductor Corporation October, 2001 at Microprocessor Forum. First demonstration at COMPUTEX Taiwan, June, 2002.

0.15 μm process technology
MMX and 3DNow! instructions
16 KB Instruction and 16 KB Data L1 cache
GeodeLink architecture, 6 GB/s on-chip bandwidth, up to 2 GB/s memory bandwidth
Integrated 64-bit PC133 SDRAM and DDR266 controller
Clockrate: 266, 333, and 400 MHz
33 MHz PCI bus interconnect with CPU bus
3 PCI masters supported
1600×1200 24-bit display with video scaling
CRT DACs and an UMA DSTN/TFT controller.
Geode CS5535 or CS5536 companion chip

Geode SCxx00 Series

Developed by National Tel Aviv (NSTA) based on IP from Longmont and other sources.

Applications:

The SC3200 was used in the Tatung TWN-5213 CU.

AMD Geode

In 2002, AMD introduced the Geode GX series, which was a re-branding of the National Semiconductor GX2. This was quickly followed by the Geode LX, running up to 667 MHz. LX brought many improvements, such as higher speed DDR, a re-designed instruction pipe, and a more powerful display controller. The upgrade from the CS5535 I/O Companion to the CS5536 brought higher speed USB.

Geode GX and LX processors are typically found in devices such as thin clients and industrial control systems. However, they have come under competitive pressure from VIA on the x86 side, and ARM processors from various vendors taking much of the low-end business.

Because of the relative performance, albeit higher PPW, of the GX and LX core design, AMD introduced the Geode NX, which is an embedded version of the Athlon processor, K7. Geode NX uses the Thoroughbred core and is quite similar to the Athlon XP-M that use this core. The Geode NX includes 256 KB of level 2 cache, and runs fanless at up to 1 GHz in the NX1500@6 W version. The NX2001 part runs at 1.8 GHz, the NX1750 part runs at 1.4 GHz, and the NX1250 runs at 667 MHz.

The Geode NX, with its strong FPU, is particularly suited for embedded devices with graphical performance requirements, such as information kiosks and casino gaming machines, such as video slots.

However, it was reported that the specific design team for Geode processors in Longmont, Colorado, has been closed, and 75 employees are being relocated to the new development facility in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is expected that the Geode line of processors will be updated less frequently due to the closure of the Geode design center.^[5]

In 2009, comments by AMD indicated that there are no plans for any future microarchitecture upgrades to the processor and that there will be no successor; however, the processors will still be available with the planned availability of the Geode LX extending through 2015.^[6]^[7] In 2016 AMD updated the product roadmap announcing extension of last time buy and shipment for the LX series to 2019.^[8] In early 2018 hardware manufacturer congatec announced an agreement with AMD for a further extension of availability of congatec's Geode based platforms.^[9]

Geode GX

Model	Clock rate
Model	Core (MHz)
Geode GX 466@0.9 W	333
Geode GX 500@0.9 W	366
Geode GX 533@0.9 W	400

Geode LX

Model	Clock rate	Power consumption	TDP
Model	Core (MHz)	W
Geode LX 600@0.7 W	366	1.2	2.8
Geode LX 700@0.8 W	433	1.3	3.1
Geode LX 800@0.9 W	500	1.8	3.6
Geode LX 900@1.5 W	600	2.6	5.1

Features:

Low power.
Full x86 compatibility.
Processor functional blocks:
- CPU Core
- GeodeLink Control Processor
- GeodeLink Interface Units
- GeodeLink Memory Controller
- Graphics Processor
- Display Controller
- Video Processor
- Video Input Port
- GeodeLink PCI Bridge
- Security Block
  - 128-Bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) - (CBC/ECB)
  - True Random Number Generator

Specification:

Processor frequency up to 600 MHz (LX900), 500 MHz (LX800) and 433 MHz (LX700).
Power management: ACPI, lower power, wakeup on SMI/INTR.
64K Instruction / 64K Data L1 cache and 128K L2 cache
Split Instruction/Data cache/TLB.
DDR Memory 400 MHz (LX 800), 333 MHz (LX 700)
Integrated FPU with MMX and 3DNow!
9 GB/s internal GeodeLink Interface Unit (GLIU)
Simultaneous, high-res CRT and TFT (High and standard definition). VESA 1.1 and 2.0 VIP/VDA support
Manufactured at a 0.13 micrometre process
481-terminal PBGA (Plastic Ball grid array)
GeodeLink active hardware power management

Applications:

OLPC XO-1

Geode NX

Model	Fab (nm)	Clock rate		CPU cache (KB)		Power consumption	TDP	Core operating voltage (V)
Model	Fab (nm)	Core (MHz)	FSB (MHz)	L1	L2	W		Core operating voltage (V)
Geode NX 1250@6 W	130	667	133	128	256	6	9	1.00
Geode NX 1500@6 W		1000				6	9	1.10
Geode NX 1750@14 W		1400				14	25	1.25
Geode NX 2000^[10]		1800				?	?	1.40

Features:

7th generation core (based on Mobile Athlon XP-M).
Power management: AMD PowerNow!, ACPI 1.0b and ACPI 2.0.
3DNow!, MMX and SSE instruction sets
0.13 μm (130 nm) fabrication process
Pin compatibility between all NX family processors.
OS support: Linux, Windows CE, MS Windows XP.
Compatible with Socket A motherboards

Geode NX 2001

In 2007, there was a Geode NX 2001 model on sale, which in fact was a relabelled Athlon XP 2200+ Thoroughbred. The processors, with part numbers AANXA2001FKC3G or ANXA2001FKC3D, their specifications are 1.8 GHz clock speed, and 1.65 volt core operating voltage. The power consumption is 62.8 Watt. There are no official references to this processor except officials explaining that the batch of CPUs were "being shipped to specific customers", though it is clear it is a desktop Athlon XP CPU core instead of the Mobile Athlon XP-M derived Thoroughbred cores of the other Geode NX CPUs, and thus doesn't feature embedded application specific thermal envelope, power consumption and power management features. This kind of "badge engineering" of a particular CPU to accommodate a request for a desktop class chip from an OEM which merely wants to maintain brand recognition and association with the GeodeNX CPUs in its products, but the actual end-product application doesn't necessitate the advanced power and thermal optimization of the GeodeNX CPU's, is understandable, as re-labeling a part in a product catalog, is practically free and the processors do share the same CPU socket (Socket A).^[11]

Chipsets for Geode

NSC Geode CS5530A Southbridge for Geode GX1.
NSC/AMD Geode CS5535 Southbridge for Geode GX(2) and Geode LX (USB 1.1). Integrates four USB ports, one ATA-66 UDMA controller, one Infrared communication port, one AC'97 controller, one SMBUS controller, one LPC port, as well as GPIO, Power Management, and legacy functional blocks.
AMD Geode CS5536 Southbridge for Geode GX and Geode LX (USB 2.0). Power consumption: 1.9 W (433 MHz) and 2.4 W (500 MHz). This chipset is also used on PowerPC board (Amy'05).
Geode NX processors are "100 percent socket and chipset compatible" with AMD's Socket A Athlon XP processors: SIS741CX Northbridge and SIS 964 Southbridge, VIA KM400 Northbridge and VIA VT8235 Southbridge, VIA KM400A Northbridge and VIA VT8237R Southbridge and other Socket A chipsets.

Related Research Articles

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The Cyrix 6x86 is a line of sixth-generation, 32-bit x86 microprocessors designed and released by Cyrix in 1995. Cyrix, being a fabless company, had the chips manufactured by IBM and SGS-Thomson. The 6x86 was made as a direct competitor to Intel's Pentium microprocessor line, and was pin compatible. During the 6x86's development, the majority of applications performed almost entirely integer operations. The designers foresaw that future applications would most likely maintain this instruction focus. So, to optimize the chip's performance for what they believed to be the most likely application of the CPU, the integer execution resources received most of the transistor budget. This would later prove to be a strategic mistake, as the popularity of the P5 Pentium caused many software developers to hand-optimize code in assembly language, to take advantage of the P5 Pentium's tightly pipelined and lower latency FPU. For example, the highly anticipated first-person shooter Quake used highly optimized assembly code designed almost entirely around the P5 Pentium's FPU. As a result, the P5 Pentium significantly outperformed other CPUs in the game.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">MediaGX</span> Series of x86-compatible processor

The MediaGX CPU is an x86-compatible processor that was designed by Cyrix and manufactured by National Semiconductor following the two companies' merger. It was introduced in 1997. The core is based on the integration of the Cyrix Cx5x86 CPU core with hardware to process video and audio output. Following the buyout of Cyrix by National Semiconductor and the sale of the Cyrix name and trademarks to VIA Technologies, the core was developed by National Semiconductor into the Geode line of processors, which was subsequently sold to Advanced Micro Devices.

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AMD Athlon X4 is a series of budget AMD microprocessors for personal computers. These processors are distinct from A-Series APUs of the same era due to the lack of iGPUs.

References

↑ Stiller, Andreas (25 August 2003). "Prozessorgeflüster" (in German). Heise online.
↑ 文● 大原雄介 (2011-11-14). "CPU黒歴史組み込みへの無理解に翻弄されたElan＆Geode" (in Japanese). ascii.jp. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
↑ "CL1 Hardware Design Specification Archived 2014-03-27 at the Wayback Machine ". One Laptop per Child. 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
↑ "Update of Products Adopted AMD Geode LX800 Platform - Avalue". www.avalue-tech.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
↑ X-Bit Labs report Archived 2007-10-24 at the Wayback Machine , retrieved July 19, 2007
↑ AMD in Embedded: Proven Leadership and Solutions, retrieved May 24, 2010
↑ AMD sees no Geode chip replacement in sight, 2009-01-26
↑ AMD Geode LX Processor Family:Longevity
↑ congatec partners with AMD for long-time support of AMD Geode processors, 2018-01-16
↑ ANXD2000FVC3F CPUID dump, retrieved March 5, 2019
↑ Fab51.com information Archived 2010-01-24 at the Wayback Machine , retrieved January 22, 2008

External links

AMD pages for Geode
AMD Geode LX800 product information
AMD Geode LX Processors Data Book
National Semiconductor press release: Cyrix -> VIA, MediaGX -> Geode
National Semiconductor press release: Geode sold to AMD
CPU-INFO: Cyrix MediaGX, indepth processor history
Voltage and P State information for Geode NX Archived 2010-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
Quixant QX-10 Geode NX Motherboard for gaming applications
Soekris Engineering sells embedded boards with Geode processors
PC Engines ALIX another embedded board with Geode LX processor
CM-iGLX the smallest Computer On Module based on Geode LX
Fit-PC full-featured end-user product based on the CM-iGLX PC-on-module above
Artec Group manufactures products based on the Geode such as the ThinCan.
Troika NG PowerPC board using CS5536.

Linux on Geode

Installing Linux on Geode-based Single-Board Computers
DEvoSL - DSL on Evo T20 HowTo
Compaq Evo T20 Notes
Installing Linux onto the IBM Netvista N2200
Linux on CASIO Cassiopeia Fiva
Linux with Cyrix MediaGXm, NSC/AMD Geode GX
Linux Development on the Pepper Pad 3 Archived 2006-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
Patching linux with OCF to hook into Geode's AES Security Block
Pus-pus is a compact Debian-based distribution to run onto the IBM Netvista N2200
Zeroshell router/firewall appliance Archived 2009-06-27 at the Wayback Machine

NetBSD on Geode

Wasabi Systems Certified NetBSD port and NAS software

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[1] Stiller, Andreas (25 August 2003). "Prozessorgeflüster" (in German). Heise online.

[2] 文● 大原雄介 (2011-11-14). "CPU黒歴史組み込みへの無理解に翻弄されたElan＆Geode" (in Japanese). ascii.jp. Retrieved 2022-11-15.

[3] "CL1 Hardware Design Specification Archived 2014-03-27 at the Wayback Machine ". One Laptop per Child. 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2013-07-24.

[4] "Update of Products Adopted AMD Geode LX800 Platform - Avalue". www.avalue-tech.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.

[5] X-Bit Labs report Archived 2007-10-24 at the Wayback Machine , retrieved July 19, 2007

[6] AMD in Embedded: Proven Leadership and Solutions, retrieved May 24, 2010

[7] AMD sees no Geode chip replacement in sight, 2009-01-26

[8] AMD Geode LX Processor Family:Longevity

[9] congatec partners with AMD for long-time support of AMD Geode processors, 2018-01-16

[10] ANXD2000FVC3F CPUID dump, retrieved March 5, 2019

[11] Fab51.com information Archived 2010-01-24 at the Wayback Machine , retrieved January 22, 2008

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