6.3.1 Processor Core
Features of the processor core include:
- 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4F architecture optimized for small-footprint embedded applications
- 120-MHz operation; 150 DMIPS performance
- Outstanding processing performance combined with fast interrupt handling
- Thumb-2 mixed 16- and 32-bit instruction set delivers the high performance expected of a 32-bit Arm core in a compact memory size usually associated with 8- and 16-bit devices, typically in the range of a few kilobytes of memory for MCU-class applications.
- Single-cycle multiply instruction and hardware divide
- Atomic bit manipulation (bit-banding), delivering maximum memory use and streamlined peripheral control
- Unaligned data access, enabling data to be efficiently packed into memory
- IEEE 754-compliant single-precision floating-point unit (FPU)
- 16-bit SIMD vector processing unit
- Fast code execution permits slower processor clock or increases sleep mode time
- Harvard architecture characterized by separate buses for instruction and data
- Efficient processor core, system, and memories
- Hardware division and fast digital-signal-processing orientated multiply accumulate
- Saturating arithmetic for signal processing
- Deterministic high-performance interrupt handling for time-critical applications
- Memory protection unit (MPU) to provide a privileged mode for protected operating system functionality
- Enhanced system debug with extensive breakpoint and trace capabilities
- Serial Wire Debug and Serial Wire Trace reduce the number of pins required for debugging and tracing
- Migration from the Arm7® processor family for better performance and power efficiency
- Optimized for single-cycle flash memory use up to specific frequencies; see the Internal Memory chapter of the MSP432E4 SimpleLink™ Microcontrollers Technical Reference Manual for more information.
- Ultra-low-power consumption with integrated sleep modes