ARM today announced the immediate availability of the ARM Cortex-A9 Processor Optimization Packs (POPs). Processor Optimization Packs leverage ARM Artisan physical IP to enable ARM's customers to achieve higher performance or power targets on their Cortex-A9 implementations. A silicon-proven POP is available now TSMC 40nm G process technology. The Cortex-A9 POP on TSMC 40nm LP process technology will be available to ARM's customers in January 2011, the company said.

The Cortex-A9 Processor Optimization Packages contain three elements: ARM Artisan optimized logic and memory physical IP for a specific process technology, supported by implementation knowledge and ARM benchmarking. Combined together the POP allows SoC designers to optimize Cortex-A9 designs for maximum performance, lowest power or to develop customized solutions balancing power and performance for their specific application.

A performance-optimized implementation using the Cortex-A9 POP on TSMC 40nm G process delivers up to 1.71 GHz performance under worst case conditions. The 40nm LP POP will deliver up to 1.0 GHz performance in worst case conditions.

ARM also offers hard macro implementations for the 40nm G performance and power-optimized implementations, embedding the same optimizations contained in the Processor Optimization Pack.