The M8051W is an exceptionally high performance version of this popular 8-bit microcontroller, requiring just two clocks per machine cycle rather than the 12 clocks per cycle of the industry standard device while keeping functional compatibility with the standard part. This allows the M8051W to run up to six times faster than the standard part for the same power consumption - or to have one sixth of the power consumption when run at the standard speed.
The microcode-free design is software compatible with industry standard discrete devices, having all their core features, as well as additional features corresponding to the Intel 8051/8031/80C51BH/80C31BH/87C51 parts and equivalent 8052 parts. The IP is supported by many 3rd-party C compilers and assemblers. For example, Mentor Graphics uses the C51 compiler from Keil Software for internal development and testing.

• Two clocks per machine cycle architecture
• Up to 1 Mbyte of external Data Memory, accessible by a choice of interfaces
• Up to 256 bytes of Internal Data Memory
• Up to 1 Mbyte of RAM or ROM Program Memory, accessible by a choice of interfaces
• Support for synchronous and asynchronous Program, External Data & Internal Data Memory
• Wait states support for slow Program and External Data Memory
• Software compatible with Intel 8051, 8031, 87C51 and 8052 equivalents
• 2 or 3 16-bit timer/counters (optional)
• Full-duplex serial port (optional)
• Intel-compatible I/O ports
• Max 25-source, 2 or 4-level interrupt controller; choice of handling scheme
• Option of 1, 2, 4 or 8 data pointers
• Support for user-defined SFRs
• Separate demultiplexed memory interface ports
• Fully synthesizable
• Scan test ready