![](\"http:\/\/linuxgizmos.com\/files\/arm_cortexa5_block_2018-thm.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOct 23, 2018 \u2014 by Eric Brown<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Arm has extended its Cortex-M oriented DesignStart program to Cortex-A5 SoCs running Linux. The SoC development platform starts at $75,000 for Cortex-A5 IP access and a year of design support.<\/p>\n
Arm\u2019s DesignStart, which helps semiconductor manufacturers develop Cortex-M based MCUs, has for the first time been extended to support a Linux-ready Cortex-A processor. DesignStart for Cortex-A5 now offers developers \u201cthe lowest cost access to a Linux-capable Arm CPU,\u201d says the chip IP designer.<\/p>\n
The DesignStart program for Cortex-A5 starts at $75,000 for IP access and a year of design support. A $150K option extends the access fee and support to three years. DesignStart also provides a web portal and a simplified contract.<\/p>\n
Arm diagram showing scope of DesignStart on Cortex-A5<\/b> <\/p>\n Key benefits of DesignStart program for Cortex-A5 includes access to system IP including:<\/p>\n Arm also notes that its \u201cvast range of Artisan physical IP\u201d is available to help SoC developers more quickly tape out a custom chip. Customers can also access \u201cdesign enablement platforms being supported by 18 foundry partners with process technology ranging from 250nm to 5nm,\u201d says Arm.<\/p>\n Cortex-A5 enables relatively low fabrication costs, in part by offering a small footprint: Cortex-A5 block diagram (left) and Microchip\u2019s SAMA5D27 SOM<\/b> Microchip, through its Atmel acquisition, is one of a relatively few vendors that have run with the Cortex-A5. The company has long sold a SAMA5D<\/a> family of SoCs, and earlier this year, it announced an open source, mainline Linux-ready SAMA5D27 SOM<\/a> SiP module. The module is based on its -A5-based SAMA5D27 SoC equipped with 128MB RAM.<\/p>\n Given that the low-power -A5 is ideal for many low-end IoT gizmos, it has surprised us that Arm has not done more to promote the IP. Arm\u2019s soft pedaling of Cortex-A5 was likely linked to its very successful efforts to promote Cortex-M on the low end and to boost Cortex-A7 as a Cortex-A5 replacement. Arm wanted to clearly differentiate between the Cortex-M and -A platforms.<\/p>\n With the relatively low-cost Cortex-A5 DesignStart program, Arm is now ready to serve the projected increase in custom IoT SoC development. We\u2019re likely to see a growing number of smaller-volume SoCs aimed at very specific IoT applications. Many of these will be developed by fabless startups.<\/p>\n Two other trends may have also motivated Arm to push Cortex-A5. First, the open source RISC-V<\/a> platform is emerging as a threat, especially when competing for smaller SoC design shops that cannot afford Arm\u2019s standard IP licenses. Second, Arm now has skin in the game with its new Mbed Linux OS<\/a>, which like the MCU-oriented Mbed OS that it\u2019s partially based on, will support its Pelion IoT Platform. Cortex-A5 and -A7 are naturals for running the IoT focused Mbed Linux, which is also based on Yocto Project code.<\/p>\n Further information<\/b><\/p>\n The DesignStart program for Cortex-A5 is now available, starting at $75,000 per year. More information may be found in Arm\u2019s announcement in Design & Reuse<\/a>, as well as a more detailed blog announcement<\/a> and the DesignStart product page<\/a>.<\/p>\n![](\"\/files\/arm_cortexa5_block_designstart.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n(click image to enlarge)<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n
\n(click images to enlarge)<\/p>\n