Broadcom Corporation has released a new Wi-Fi Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) processor that extends its Intensi-fi family of draft-802.11n solutions. Although current generations of 802.11n products deliver 4 times the throughput of 802.11g, performance is actually bottlenecked by the Fast Ethernet switch and network processor. By integrating a GbE controller and increasing the processor's clock speed, Broadcom's latest offering eliminates those bottlenecks, allowing the system to achieve the theoretical maximum wireless 802.11n performance, nearly 8 times that of 802.11g. The new Broadcom Wi-Fi GbE processor is available today in products from leading OEMs, including Linksys and Buffalo.
In real world tests conducted by Broadcom and validated by a third-party testing company, products powered by the new Broadcom BCM4705 GbE processor produced industry leading Wi-Fi throughput in excess of 160 Megabits per second (Mbps). In addition, highlighting the power of the Intensi-fi architecture, these products have also demonstrated a consistent data throughput of up to 200 Mbps and achieved over 250 Mbps in a simultaneous dual band configuration in "clean air" laboratory tests.
"The performance of draft-802.11n wireless routers shouldn't be gated by associated networking components that can keep these products from reaching the performance targets of the forthcoming 802.11n standard," said Rahul Patel, director of marketing for Broadcom's Wireless LAN business unit. "By offering the industry's highest performing Wi-Fi network processor, Broadcom is enabling manufacturers to deliver premium access points, routers and residential gateways that deliver the full value of 802.11n networking."
Announced today is the BCM4705 network processor, the latest addition to Broadcom's popular Intensi-fi family of IEEE draft-802.11n solutions that are currently found in nearly 70 percent of draft-802.11n routers and client devices. The new network processor provides a significant boost in performance compared to other draft-802.11n processors, while maintaining compliance with the current draft of the standard. Products based on the BCM4705 will provide the bandwidth needed to wirelessly stream high definition video content throughout a typical home and support the increasingly diverse ecosystem of Wi-Fi products being adopted by consumers.
