Network Processor delivers draft 802.11n performance.
Press Release Summary:
Broadcom® BCM4705 Wi-Fi® Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) processor combines 300 MHz/500 DMIPS MIPS32® core and GbE controller to provide high-speed routing and bridging capabilities that eliminate performance bottlenecks. While wireless clients achieve greater than 160 Mbps TCP/IP throughput, wired clients can achieve GbE speeds. USB-enabled processor supports 2.4 and/or 5 GHz radios and accommodates 2x2, 3x3, and 4x4 antenna configurations.
Original Press Release:
Broadcom Adds Gigabit Ethernet Wi-Fi(R) Processor to Its Intensi-fi(TM) Family of Draft-802.11n Solutions
New Network Processor Enables Industry-Leading Wi-Fi Router Performance, Expanding the Possibilities of the 802.11n Standard
IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 6 -- Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced a new Wi-Fi(R) Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) processor that extends its Intensi-fi(TM) family of draft-802.11n solutions. Although current generations of 802.11n products deliver 4 times the throughput of 802.11g, performance is actually bottlenecked by the Fast Ethernet switch and network processor. By integrating a GbE controller and increasing the processor's clock speed, Broadcom's latest offering eliminates those bottlenecks, allowing the system to achieve the theoretical maximum wireless 802.11n performance, nearly 8 times that of 802.11g. The new Broadcom(R) Wi-Fi GbE processor is available today in products from leading OEMs, including Linksys and Buffalo.
In real world tests conducted by Broadcom and validated by a third-party testing company, products powered by the new Broadcom BCM4705 GbE processor produced industry leading Wi-Fi throughput in excess of 160 Megabits per second (Mbps). In addition, highlighting the power of the Intensi-fi architecture, these products have also demonstrated a consistent data throughput of up to 200 Mbps and achieved over 250 Mbps in a simultaneous dual band configuration in "clean air" laboratory tests.
"The performance of draft-802.11n wireless routers shouldn't be gated by associated networking components that can keep these products from reaching the performance targets of the forthcoming 802.11n standard," said Rahul Patel, Director of Marketing for Broadcom's Wireless LAN business unit. "By offering the industry's highest performing Wi-Fi network processor, Broadcom is enabling manufacturers to deliver premium access points, routers and residential gateways that deliver the full value of 802.11n networking."
Announced today is the BCM4705 network processor, the latest addition to Broadcom's popular Intensi-fi family of IEEE draft-802.11n solutions that are currently found in nearly 70 percent of draft-802.11n routers and client devices(1). The new network processor provides a significant boost in performance compared to other draft-802.11n processors, while maintaining compliance with the current draft of the standard. Products based on the BCM4705 will provide the bandwidth needed to wirelessly stream high definition video content throughout a typical home and support the increasingly diverse ecosystem of Wi-Fi products being adopted by consumers.
Product Information
The highly integrated BCM4705 processor combines a powerful 300 MHz/500 DMIPS MIPS32(R) core and Gigabit Ethernet controller to provide high-speed routing and bridging capabilities. When implemented with Broadcom's best-in-class Intensi-fi radio and media access controller/baseband chips, the BCM4705 processor can substantially enhance the throughput of devices connected to a Gigabit network -- providing greater than 160 Mb/s of TCP/IP throughput for wireless clients while also offering Gigabit Ethernet speeds for wired clients.
Broadcom's flexible draft-802.11n processor platform provides several configuration and connectivity options that enable manufacturers to balance performance and cost in developing router/gateway products. The dual-band BCM4705 processor supports 2.4 and/or 5 GHz radios and accommodates 2X2, 3X3 and 4Ã-4 antenna configurations, enabling single band, dual band, or simultaneous dual band Wi-Fi routers. The chip also integrates USB 2.0 host/device interfaces, enabling dynamic end products that allow end users to add several application specific peripherals such as printers, network attached storage, and digital cameras, to the Wi-Fi or wired network.
Like all of Broadcom's award-winning Wi-Fi solutions, the BCM4705 processor utilizes a highly integrated, all-CMOS architecture that enables cost-effective, high volume manufacturing. In addition, the BCM4705 processor supports Broadcom's proven OneDriver(TM) software, which not only provides a consistent driver platform for manufacturers, but also delivers superior performance, ease-of-use and security features. One such feature is SecureEasySetup(TM) software, which enables users to configure their Wi-Fi networks and activate WPA(TM) security with the push of a button. OneDriver software also supports Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM(TM)), which provides important quality of service (QoS) features by prioritizing audio, video and voice traffic on a Wi-Fi network.
Broadcom's Wireless LAN Product Family
Broadcom's high performance AirForce(TM) wireless LAN product line includes 54g(R) (the world's most popular Wi-Fi technology), and Intensi-fi (the industry's leading draft-802.11n chipsets, www.80211n.com). In addition to transceiver solutions that provide single and dual band wireless connectivity, Broadcom integrates wireless network processors, communications technologies and its OneDriver software solutions into reference designs that speed customer time-to-market. The industry's leading manufacturers are developing computers, routers, peripherals, phones, broadband modems and a variety of consumer electronics devices connected by Broadcom technologies.
About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Our products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. Broadcom provides the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).
Broadcom, one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies with annual revenue of more than $2.5 billion, is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at 1-949-450-8700 or at www.broadcom.com.
Broadcom(R), the pulse logo, Connecting everything(R), the Connecting everything logo, 54g(R), AirForce(TM), Intensi-fi(TM), OneDriver(TM) and SecureEasySetup(TM) are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Wi-Fi(R), WPA(TM) and WMM(TM) are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. MIPS32(R) is a trademark of ARM Holdings. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
(1) According to US retail sales data from the NPD Group, August 2006
Broadcom Technical Contact
David Cohen
Senior Product Marketing Manager, WLAN
408-922-5836
dcohen@broadcom.com
CONTACT: Broadcom Technical, David Cohen, Senior Product Marketing Manager, WLAN, +1-408-922-5836, dcohen@broadcom.com, of Broadcom Corporation
