What makes Cortex-M3 more desirable than the other 40+ core architectures that are used for embedded MCUs?
In addition to the differentiators discussed in the previous questions, Cortex-M3 has the additional benefit of being a member of the open ARM architecture. This gives designers a number of very important benefits: • Access to the entire ARM Connected Community for world-class tools, software, operating systems, and applications and design support. • The ability to work in one architecture and one tools set for applications ranging from 25 DMIPS to a Gigahertz. • The ability to span traditional 8-, 16-, and 32-bit applications price points with one architecture. • The ability to choose the best silicon supplier for the designer’s end-market requirement and keep the software the same. This last point deserves further clarification. According to Embedded System Programming’s annual survey of designers (April 2005), the overwhelming factors driving embedded processor selection are all related to software: software tools, operating systems, hardware tools, and available software are four o
