AMD showcased a significant new tool suite in conjunction with Sage Electronic Engineering. The new Sage SmartProbe, designed specifically for AMD Embedded Solutions, gives software engineers a hardware interface to evaluate the system under development at every stage in the design cycle. It allows graphic visualization of the entire embedded system operation, including code flow, register access, memory movement, multi-core execution, and peripheral access. SmartProbe can also help speed the qualification process for test and production teams.

“The SmartProbe tool is key to helping remove the barriers to using x86 in deeply embedded or ‘headless’ systems,” said Buddy Broeker, director, AMD Embedded Solutions. “Because this class of embedded design is deployed without a monitor, keyboard or other peripherals, it can greatly improve efficiency if there is a consistent architecture between the embedded system design and the PC architecture where its critical software is developed. This new tool can allow the developer more access and control over their project with very accurate inspection and debug capability.”

“The right tools let you get the job done faster, leaving more time to produce the best possible solution for a given problem,” said Scott Hoot, president and CEO of Sage Electronic Engineering. “We know that AMD offers extremely compelling advantages and with the SmartProbe, we hope to extend those benefits to a broader range of embedded systems, enable developers to innovate more and ultimately get their product to market faster.”

Sage has also announced a comprehensive integrated development environment (IDE) specifically for AMD Embedded Solutions that includes compiler, assembler and source-level debugger, and works in conjunction with the SmartProbe. This IDE integrates all design and debug functions in a clear, intuitive user interface.

These new tools support AMD embedded platforms based on the AMD Opteron, Athlon, Sempron, Turion and Phenom processor families, and are on demonstration at Embedded Systems Conference in booth #920.