Faster code from development toolchain for TI’s MSP430 MCUs
EEMBC CoreMark results published by Texas Instruments depict a score of 27.70 CoreMarks running at 25 MHz, resulting in a normalized score of 1.1 CoreMark/MHz. Compared to previous results for MSP430, the scores are increased by around 40%.
The results have been achieved using version 5.52 of IAR Embedded Workbench for MSP430, set to high optimisation for code speed with no code size constraints. Further enhancements to the development tools have been added with version 5.60, which includes new libraries and integrations. The integrated TI Math Library for MSP430 includes floating-point routines that can be used in computationally-intensive real-time applications where optimal execution speed is critical. By using these routines instead of the routines found in the existing run-time-support libraries, developers can gain an additional performance boost in any application that use floating point scalar math, without rewriting existing code.
TI comments that, “MSP430 microcontrollers are used mainly in ultra-low-power applications. Enabling optimised and speed-efficient code is crucial in order to truly keep the power consumption to a minimum for these applications.”
IAR Embedded Workbench for MSP430 includes a highly-optimising C/C++ compiler and a comprehensive debugger in an integrated development environment. It also integrates Texas Instruments’ power optimisation teaching tool ULP Advisor software that uses a static code analyser to offer tips and tricks to help developers understand where they can improve their code to minimise power consumption.
More information and free evaluation licenses are available from;
IAR Systems; www.iar.com/ew430
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