The third generation of SHARC® Processors, which includes the ADSP-21261, ADSP-21262, ADSP-21266, ADSP-21363, ADSP-21364, ADSP-21365, and ADSP-21366 offers increased performance, audio and application-focused peripherals, and memory configurations capable of supporting surround-sound decoder algorithms. All devices are pin-compatible with each other and completely code-compatible with all prior SHARC Processors. These members of the SHARC Processor family are based on a single-instruction, multiple-data (SIMD) core, which supports both 32-bit fixed-point and 32-/40-bit floating-point arithmetic formats making them particularly suitable for high-performance audio applications.

The ADSP-21363 offers the highest performance – 333 MHz/2 GFLOPs -- within the third generation SHARC Processor family. This level of performance makes the ADSP-21363 particularly well suited to address the increasing requirements of many general purpose signal processing applications.

Third generation SHARC Processors also integrate application-specific peripherals designed to simplify hardware design, minimize design risks, and ultimately reduce time to market. Grouped together, and broadly named the Digital Audio Interface (DAI), these functional blocks may be connected to each other or to external pins via the software-programmable Signal Routing Unit (SRU). The SRU is an innovative architectural feature that enables complete and flexible routing amongst DAI blocks. Peripherals connected through the SRU include, but are not limited to, serial ports, SPI ports and an 8-Channel asynchronous sample rate converter block.

At least one model within this product family is in production and available for purchase. The product is appropriate for new designs but newer alternatives may exist.