The SiFive Essential family is a portfolio of processor cores that spans from high-performance multi-core heterogeneous application processors to area-optimized, low-power embedded microcontrollers. SiFive Essential standard core microarchitectures are based on the RISC-V ISA to provide 64-bit and 32-bit options.

 

You can tune SiFive Essential cores to your workload using SiFive Core Designer, leveraging the flexible generator style SiFive uses to design processor architectures for different classes of performance and efficiency. SiFive Essential Standard cores based on a flexible microarchitecture designs are pre-configured for common use cases and are the perfect starting point for designing your own core in SiFive Core Designer.

 

You can get started with a free Standard Core evaluation, or build your own custom core design, and receive Verilog RTL and FPGA bitstream.

 

Here is a list of SiFive Essential Series processors.

 

SiFive E7 Series

 

E76-MC

The SiFive E76-MC Standard Core is a high-performance quad-core 32-bit embedded processor which is fully-compliant with the RISC-V ISA. Its advanced memory subsystem enables inclusion of tightly-integrated memory and caches.

 

The E76-MC is ideal for applications with high-throughput requirements such as In-storage Compute, Sensor Hubs, Edge-compute Nodes, Biometric Signal Processing, and Autonomous Machines (i.e., Robots, Drones, ADAS systems, etc.)

 

E76

The SiFive E76 Standard Core is a high-performance 32-bit embedded processor which is fully-compliant with the RISC-V ISA. Its advanced memory subsystem enables inclusion of tightly-integrated memory and caches.

 

The E76 is ideal for applications which require high performance — but have power constraints (e.g., Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality , IoT Edge Compute, Biometric Signal Processing, and Industrial Automation).

 

SFive E6 Series

 

SiFive E61-MC

The SiFive® Essential E61-MC Standard Core is a mid-range performance quad-core 32-bit embedded processor that is fully-compliant with the RISC-V ISA. Its advanced memory subsystem enables inclusion of tightly-integrated memory and caches.

 

The E61-MC is ideal for applications that require 32-bit high performance in a power-constrained environment (e.g., general purpose embedded, industrial, IoT, high-performance real-time embedded, automotive).

 

SiFive E61

The SiFive® Essential™ E61 core is a mid-range performance 32-bit embedded processor that is fully-compliant with the RISC-V ISA. Its advanced memory subsystem enables inclusion of tightly-integrated memory and caches.

 

The E61 is ideal for applications that are 32-bit mid-range performance in a power-constrained environment (e.g., general purpose embedded, industrial, IoT, high-performance real-time embedded, automotive).

 

SiFive E2 Series

 

SiFive E24

The SiFive E24 Standard Core is a high-performance microcontroller with hardware support for single-precision floating-point capabilities, implementing the RISC-V ISA’s F standard extension. The E24’s efficiency and floating-point capabilities make it exceptional at motor control, sensor fusion, and IoT applications.

 

SiFive E21

The SiFive E21 Standard Core is a high-performance, full-featured embedded processor designed to address advanced microcontroller applications such as Sensor Fusion, Smart IoT, Wearables, Connected Toys, and more. Separate Instruction and Data Buses, along with 2 banks of Tightly Integrated Memory (TIMs) make the E21 an ideal choice for applications with deterministic or demanding memory requirements.

 

SiFive E20

The SiFive E20 Standard Core is an extremely efficient implementation of the E2 Series configured for very low area and power. The E20 brings the power of the RISC-V software ecosystem to efficiently address traditional 8-bit and 32-bit microcontroller applications such as IoT, Analog Mixed Signal, and Programmable Finite State Machines.

 

Further optimize the E2 Core for the smallest area using SiFive Core Designer.

 

SiFive S7 Series

 

S76-MC

The SiFive S76-MC Standard Core is a high-performance 64-bit quad-core embedded processor which is fully-compliant with the RISC-V ISA.

 

The S76-MC is ideal for latency-sensitive applications in domains such as storage and networking that require high-throughput, 64-bit memory addressability, and have real-time constraints (e.g. Enterprise Storage, In-storage Compute, 5G Base Stations, SLAM processing, etc.)

 

S76

The SiFive S76 Standard Core is a high-performance 64-bit embedded processor which is fully-compliant with the RISC-V ISA.

 

The S76 is ideal for latency-sensitive applications in domains such as storage and networking that require 64-bit memory addressability (e.g. In-storage Compute, Edge Compute, 5G Modems, Object storage etc.)

 

SiFive S6 Series

 

S61-MC

The SiFive® Essential™ S61-MC Standard Core is a mid-range-performance 64-bit quad-core embedded processor that is fully-compliant with the RISC-V ISA.

 

The S61-MC is ideal for latency-sensitive applications in domains such as storage and networking that require high-throughput, 64-bit memory addressability, and have real-time constraints (e.g., general purpose embedded, industrial, IoT, high-performance real-time embedded, automotive).

 

S61

The SiFive® Essential™ S61 Standard Core is a mid-range performance 64-bit embedded processor that is fully-compliant with the RISC-V ISA.

The S61 is ideal for latency-sensitive applications in domains such as storage and networking that require 64-bit memory addressability (e.g., general purpose embedded, industrial, IoT, high-performance real-time embedded, automotive).

 

SiFive S2 Series

 

S21

The SiFive S21 Standard Core is a full-featured 64-bit embedded processor based on the S2 Series. The S21 has separate Instruction and Data Buses, along with 2 banks of Tightly Integrated Memory (TIMs). The S21 is an ideal choice for area constrained applications demanding a 64-bit processor.

 

SiFive U7 Series

 

U74-MC

The SiFIve U74-MC Standard Core is a high performance RISC-V application processor, capable of supporting full-featured operating systems such as Linux. The U74-MC has 4x 64-bit U74 cores and 1x 64-bit S7 core — providing high performance with hard real-time determinism.

 

This U74-MC is ideal for applications requiring high-throughput performance with real-time guarantees (e.g., Enterprise Storage, Wireless/Wireline Networking, 5G Baseband Processors, SLAM Processors, Sensor Fusion, etc.)

 

U74

The SiFive U74 Standard Core is a single-core instantiation of a high performance RISC-V application processor, capable of supporting full-featured operating systems such as Linux.

 

The U74 is ideal for applications requiring high-throughput, single-thread performance — but have power constraints (e.g., AR, VR, sensor hubs, IVI systems, IP cameras, digital cameras, gaming devices, etc.)

 

SiFive U6 Series

 

U64-MC

The SiFive® Essential™ U64-MC Standard Core is a mid-range performance RISC-V application processor, capable of supporting full-featured operating systems such as Linux. The U64-MC has 4x 64-bit U64 cores and 1x 64-bit S61 core — providing mid-range performance with hard real-time determinism.

 

This U64-MC is ideal for applications requiring high-throughput performance with real-time guarantees (e.g., general purpose embedded, industrial, IoT, high-performance real-time embedded, automotive).

 

U64

The SiFive® Essential™ U64 Standard Core is a single-core instantiation of a mid-range performance RISC-V application processor, capable of supporting full-featured operating systems such as Linux.

 

The U64 is ideal for applications requiring high-throughput, single-thread performance in a power-constrained environment (e.g., general purpose embedded, industrial, IoT, high-performance real-time embedded, automotive).