MediaTek is working on a new dual core Cortex A7 processor that supports OpenWrt and targets AC1900 WiFi routers. That’s what I learned from a tweet by WidoraIoT detailing the main features of MediaTek MT7629 SoC as shown in the table below.
So basically we have two Arm Cortex-A7 cores clocked @ up to 1.25 GHz, 8MB built-in? flash, HW accelerators and security/crypto engines, multiple Gigabit and Fast Ethernet interfaces, built-in support for 802.11n (WiFi 4) 3×3 MIMO and 802.11ac (WiFi 5) 3×3 MIMO, as well as various interfaces such as PCIe, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and the usual slower I/Os like I2C, PWM and UART.
A web search mostly shows code commits to Linux and U-boot, and we learn a few extra details such as MT7629 shares the same PCIe IP block as MT7622 dual core Cortex-A53 processor. It also reveals a forum post on Widora website with a table detailing the benefits of the upcoming processor.
As I understand it, MT7629 is a single chip solution that offers about the same power consumption and performance compared to a solution based on MT7615S and MT7615B WiFi PCIe chips plus MT7621 MIPS processor, but at a lower cost.
Another U-boot commit message indicates MediaTek engineers are working on mainline U-boot and Linux kernel for the processor. That’s about all I could find at this stage, so we will have to wait a little longer to get the full details.
[Update: A new slide shows more details about the chip including support for 2.5 GbE and external RF chips.
]
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress
