A security chip based on RISC-V increases cryptographic performance by 50%, improves memory efficiency, and reduces application load time by 120%.
Unisoc, formerly Spreadtrum, a Chinese developer of application processors, has announced what it describes as the world’s first security chip using the open RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA). The new E450R chip is reported by IT Home to deliver performance improvements for security algorithms.
A key feature of the chip is its asymmetric cryptographic PKE algorithm engine, which operates 50% faster than its predecessor. The chip maintains its performance even with increased key lengths, providing security without reducing speed. IT Home notes that the chip also shows a 50% improvement in transaction-based applications, making it suitable for environments that require quick processing.
The chip also includes a 15% increase in the erase/write speed of its non-volatile memory (NVM), allowing more efficient data storage in applications with frequent memory operations.
Unisoc highlights its use of the open-source RISC-V ISA, which allows the company to customize its processing cores for better performance and power efficiency compared to traditional architectures like Arm R, which maintains legacy features for ISA compatibility. Unisoc supports an API and manages the software/firmware stack, ensuring compatibility with various software applications, as neither IT Home nor Unisoc report issues with software compatibility.
The chip’s custom microarchitecture reduces application code size by 30% and increases application load times by 120%, improving performance in real-time applications.
The E450R has received certifications, including National Cryptography Level 2, UnionPay chip and embedded software security certifications, and the CCRC IT EAL4+ certification.
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