Propeller Multicore Microcontrollers
Two generations with unique multicore architecture.
Parallax Propeller microcontrollers use multiple independent processor cores to make real-time embedded applications easier to design and understand. Propeller 1 is the original, mature platform behind thousands of products and projects, while Propeller 2 extends the architecture with substantially greater speed, memory, I/O capability and specialized hardware. Both are actively supported with development hardware, software, documentation and a large library of community-developed code.
Why Propeller?
True multicore, deterministic real-time operation and flexible I/O. Then a short link to Chip Gracey’s Why the Propeller Works. This explains what makes both chips different before asking visitors to choose one.
The Propeller 1 (P8X32A) is the simpler, mature member of the family, with eight 32-bit cogs, 32 general-purpose I/O pins and shared memory. It is particularly well suited to robotics, industrial control, instrumentation, communications and embedded products where predictable timing, low component count and long-term reliability matter. In production since 2006, P1 has a large library of community-developed software and is completely open source, including its Verilog hardware design.
The Propeller 2 (P2X8C4M64P) extends the same multicore concept with dramatically greater performance, memory and I/O capability. Its eight faster cogs work alongside 64 Smart Pins, advanced math hardware and specialized high-speed data-transfer resources. Smart Pins can independently perform ADC, DAC, PWM, serial communications, signal measurement and other functions, making P2 particularly capable in advanced robotics, motion control, video, signal processing, test and measurement, and high-speed communications.
| Feature/Specification | Propeller 1 (P8X32A) | Propeller 2 (P2X8C4M64P) |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 3.3 V | 1.8 V Core, 3.3 V I/O |
| Internal Oscillator | ~12 MHz or ~20 kHz | 20+ MHz or ~20 kHz |
| Nominal System Speed | 80 MHz | 180 MHz @105 °C |
| Cogs (cores) | 8 | 8 |
| Internal Execution Speed | 0 to 160 MIPS (20 MIPS/cog) | 0 to 720 MIPS (90 MIPS/cog) |
| Hub Access Speed | 20 MB/s/cog @ 80 MHz | 720 MB/s/cog @ 180 MHz (using FIFO) |
| Main RAM | 32 KB | 512 KB |
| Cog RAM | 512 longs | 512 longs Cog RAM + 512 longs Lookup RAM |
| Inter-Cog Communication | Main RAM or External I/O | Main RAM, Lookup RAM, Attention Signal, or External I/O |
| I/O Pins | 32 | 64 |
| I/O Type | Digital | Digital and analog with smart circuits |
| Assembly Instructions | 79 | 358 |
| Languages | Spin, PASM, BASIC, C/C++, Blockly | Spin2, PASM2, MicroPython, Forth, BASIC, C/C++ |
Propeller 1 Multicore Microcontroller
Propeller 2 Multicore Microcontroller