NetLogic Microsystems Introduces the Industry’s Most Advanced Multi-Core Processor for LTE eNodeB / Base Stations

New XLP316L multi-core, multi-threaded processor is optimized to deliver the highest performance for next-generation LTE base stations

Mobile World Congress 2011

Santa Clara, Calif. – February 14, 2011 – NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. [NASDAQ: NETL], a worldwide leader in high-performance intelligent semiconductor solutions for next-generation Internet networks, today announced the XLP316L multi-core processor, the newest member of its industry-leading XLP™ processor family, which is optimized for next-generation Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced base stations.

The global deployment of LTE mobile services is driving a dramatic increase in performance requirements for base station processors.  For example, LTE eNodeB/base stations require 10-20x higher throughput, 10x lower latency and 10x higher control-plane signaling performance compared to third-generation WCDMA/HSPA base stations.  NetLogic Microsystems’ innovative XLP316L processor is ideally suited to address the dramatic performance requirements of LTE base stations by combining the powerful XLP processor core featuring quad-issue, quad-threading and superscalar out-of-order execution with a high-performance floating point unit and a low latency tri-level cache architecture to deliver significant data plane and control plane performance.  In addition, the XLP316L integrates advanced wireless security technologies to support SNOW3G and KASUMI protocols, multiple lanes of Serial Rapid I/O (SRIO) interfaces, and IEEE 1588v2 hardware time stamping for Ethernet backhaul timing synchronization, thereby further enhancing the performance, flexibility and functionality of the multi-core processor for LTE applications.

NetLogic Microsystems’ XLP316L multi-core processor integrates sixteen NXCPUs™, and features a breakthrough quad-issue, quad-threaded and superscalar out-of-order processor architecture capable of operating at up to 2.0GHz. The XLP316L processor will be manufactured in the advanced 40nm process, and is targeted to offer unparalleled performance of 20Gbps and 30 million packets-per-second (Mpps) for converged data plane and control plane processing in LTE and LTE-Advanced base stations. In addition, the sixteen NXCPUs are fully cache and memory coherent for software applications to seamlessly run in Symmetric Multi Processing (SMP) or Asymmetric Multi Processing (AMP) modes. The unique combination of superior processor cores and scalability to sixteen NXCPUs makes the XLP316L the industry's highest performance multi-core communications processor for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) developing next-generation LTE mobile infrastructure.

“Building upon our strong leadership position in 3.5G base stations, we are further separating ourselves from the competition by introducing the industry’s most advanced, high performance multi-core processor for next-generation 4G LTE and LTE-Advanced base stations,” said Chris O’Reilly, vice president of marketing at NetLogic Microsystems.  “Our new XLP316L multi-core processor is the only quad-issue, quad-threaded processor with superscalar out-of-order execution capabilities that are uniquely suited to address the most demanding needs of LTE mobile infrastructure.”

“After introducing its XLP processor family last year—which we estimate delivers 2x - 4x  the performance of competing chips at similar clock speeds—NetLogic Microsystems’ new XLP316L is a powerful new processor for the LTE eNodeB market,” said Tom R. Halfhill, senior analyst at The Linley Group. “With four CPU cores, it has strong performance, and it integrates the right set of I/O interfaces. We expect the XLP316L to deliver more throughput than competing quad-core processors when operating at similar clock speeds and power levels.”

The XLP316L processor features NetLogic Microsystems' high-speed, low-latency Enhanced Fast Messaging Network™ to enable efficient, high-bandwidth communication among the sixteen NXCPUs and to support billions of in-flight messages and packet descriptors between all on-chip elements. The XLP316L multi-core processor offers a tri-level cache architecture with over 6 Mbytes of fully coherent on-chip cache which delivers 40 Tbps of extremely high-speed on-chip memory bandwidth.  The XLP316L processor also incorporates one channel of 72-bit DDR3 interconnect that yields over 100 Gbps of off-chip memory bandwidth. 

To complement the sixteen NXCPUs, the XLP316L processor offers fully-autonomous processing engines that provide independent and complete offload of certain network functions from the NXCPUs, including 10Gbps of encryption/decryption/authentication including support for Kasumi and SNOW3G protocols that are required for mobile infrastructure, ingress/egress packet parsing and management, packet ordering, TCP segmentation offload and IEEE 1588 hardware time stamping.

The XLP316L multi-core processor integrates a wide range of high-speed networking interfaces, including:

• Ultra low latency Serial RapidI/O (SRIO) Rev 2.1 with flexible support for 4x1 and 1x4 configurations enabling connectivity to four DSP or ASIC chips
• PCI-Express® Gen2 4x1 or 1x4
• Eight Gigabit Ethernet (SGMII) channels
• Dual XAUI ports
• USB2.0
• XEN Hypervisor virtualization and serial I/O virtualization (SRIOV)

NetLogic Microsystems' multi-core processor family is supported by a comprehensive software development kit (SDK) that contains reference and production-ready software components, which enables customers to accelerate time-to-market.

NetLogic Microsystems is now accepting orders for the XLP316L processors with standard lead times.

About NetLogic Microsystems
NetLogic Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETL) is a worldwide leader in high-performance intelligent semiconductor solutions that are powering next-generation Internet networks.  NetLogic Microsystems’ best-in-class products perform highly differentiated tasks of accelerating complex network traffic to significantly enhance the performance and functionality of advanced 3G/4G mobile wireless infrastructure, data center, enterprise, metro Ethernet, edge and core infrastructure networks.  NetLogic Microsystems’ market-leading product portfolio includes high-performance multi-core processors, knowledge-based processors, content processors, network search engines, ultra low-power embedded processors and high-speed 10/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet PHY solutions.  These products are designed into high-performance systems such as switches, routers, wireless base stations, security appliances, networked storage appliances, service gateways and connected media devices offered by leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).  NetLogic Microsystems is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has offices and design centers throughout North America, Asia and Europe.  For more information about products offered by NetLogic Microsystems, call +1-408-454-3000 or visit the NetLogic Microsystems Web site at http://www.netlogicmicro.com.

NetLogic Microsystems and the NetLogic Microsystems logo, XLP, NXCPUs, and Enhanced Fast Messaging Network are trademarks of NetLogic Microsystems, Inc.  All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding NetLogic Microsystems’ business which are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those projected in any such forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, customer acceptance and demand for our products, the performance of our products when fabricated, the timing of manufacture and delivery of product by our foundry suppliers, our ability to successfully develop new products. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as well as other reports that NetLogic Microsystems files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and NetLogic Microsystems undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law, even as new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.