In summary, the SPIFI peripheral allows low-cost SPI and Quad SPI Flash memories to be connected directly to the memory map of an ARM® Cortex™-M3 microcontroller. This allows the MCU to utilize external SPI Flash with a minimal performance penalty when compared to external parallel flash memory. The microcontroller is able to access external Flash memory directly, without a software API or library. For example, a Quad SPI Flash combined with the SPIFI peripheral supports a data transfer rate of up to 40Mbps. The designer can choose a less expensive SPI Flash device, with its compact footprint and simple configuration, but does not have to sacrifice performance. Having the system not require a large interface for external parallel memory enables the use of a smaller, less expensive MCU. The SPIFI peripheral allows an embedded system to make better use of memory resources while remaining compact and efficient, lowering overall cost. SPIFI supports most serial Flash devices on the market today, including those with quad read/write capability, and is designed for easy configuration and programming. The interface uses four or six pins, depending on the type of serial Flash used, and works with a small register set, is optimized for efficient memory transactions, and uses software commands that reduce CPU overhead and streamline memory interactions.