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ARM Processors and Their RiseRISC-based ARM processors have become the foundation of the modern technology world because of their energy efficiency, scalability, and flexibility. From being the driving force behind every smartphone to disrupting server markets, automotive systems, and custom silicon design, ARM’s footprint is across the board. It is preferred due to its key features, such as sophisticated memory management, pipelining, and flexible instruction sets, as the processor of choice for high-performance and low-energy applications. With the demand for AI, self-driving cars, and edge computing on the rise, ARM is playing an increasingly important role in defining the future of tech.
ArticlesARM is a processor architecture based on Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) design principles. Originally, it was a 32-bit architecture, but now it’s 32-bit and 64-bit. A lot of modern devices contain a chip with an ARM CPU. The ARM CPU is the brain of that device. ARM processors are silently driving the devices that run our world. And their rise to dominance is one of the most captivating stories in the technology sector.
In this article, we will discuss ARM architecture and its applications across different industries and use cases.
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ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) is a processor or a series of computer CPUs based on RISC and was introduced by Acron computer in 1987. It is designed to simplify computational processes while optimizing speed.
ARM processors are now innovations from ARM Holdings and licensed by the world’s top chipmakers like Apple, Samsung, Qualcomm, etc.
The ARM ecosystem has grown significantly in recent years. It offers products and solutions designed for cloud services and large-scale computing. These solutions are also tailored for telecommunications and edge computing. Additionally, ARM is built to support high-performance computing tasks.
Why the widespread appeal? Firstly, ARM is energy-efficient, making it a popular choice for mobile computing (because longer battery life is preferred by everyone). Then, there is adaptability. ARM Limited designs them using RISC principles and licenses them out, rather than manufacturing them.
With ARM, tech companies can tweak and assemble processors for everything – from tablets and phones to appliances and computers. ARM is also essential in mobile tech, offering strong performance and longer battery life.
Let’s look at the standout features of ARM processors:
Modern ARM processors execute multiple tasks at once. The ARMv6K, ARM’s first asymmetric multiprocessing chip from ARM, can accommodate up to four CPUs on a single platform.
At present, ARM chips run as multi-core SoCs. They range from single-core to eight or more cores, so you can multitask across devices.
ARM processors use tightly coupled memory for fast and low-latency operation. The memory is fast to answer. It can also be of help during erratic cache behaviour.
Further, ARM has complex modules like the MMU and the MPU. They manage the virtual memory, provide secure memory areas, and are involved in the operation of the OS.
ARM chips have advanced components like the Memory Management Unit (MMU) and Memory Protection Unit (MPU). These units handle virtual memory, ensure secure memory partitions, and help maintain the smooth functioning of the operating system.
ARM’s Thumb-2 technology blends 16- and 32-bit instructions. They allow devices to switch between speed and efficiency, assuring optimal performance constantly.
ARM processors execute in a single clock cycle. With a fixed instruction length, ARM processors can fetch subsequent instructions fast. This, in turn, optimizes overall efficiency and accelerates task execution.
ARM processors don’t process instructions one by one. Instead, they use pipelining. They split tasks into stages and execute them in parallel. This assembly-line approach improves throughput without additional power consumption.
ARM chips are known for consuming less power compared to their x86 counterparts. That is the traditional architecture used by CPU manufacturers Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.
Now there’s a rise in the adoption of ARM. Apple’s M-series of processors has taken the place of Intel chips in Macs. For Amazon Web Services’ custom server chips. Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon chips are set to enter the PC market.
And now Nvidia and AMD are reportedly working on ARM-based PC chips, too.
Traditional chipset architectures, with their complex instruction sets, are capable of managing more intricate workloads. That’s why you can still find them being used in high-end computers (even though that is changing rapidly).
On the other hand, ARM is significantly more power-efficient. It doesn’t expend energy on deciding how to tackle tasks or determining the order of completion. It simply receives the instructions, completes the task with the necessary energy, and returns for the next one.
This also results in reduced heat production. That’s why the entire smartphone ecosystem primarily operates on ARM. It’s a use case where improved battery life is essential, and naturally, a fan is not an option.
To cater to different needs, ARM divided its chips into various categories:
From smartphones to supercomputers, ARM is currently in demand. Let’s explore its common use cases.
ARM made a deal with Texas Instruments, putting its processors in early Nokia mobile phones. This marked the start of ARM’s climb to become the leading architecture in nearly all smartphones today.
Inside a smartphone, there are nearly 16 to 20 CPUs. They do things like recognize your fingerprint, manage the camera, and run all the applications.
When it comes to servers, Amazon Web Services is the big name making ARM-based chips for the data center.
That is how Graviton was launched. From there, ARM went from mobile, IoT, automotive, and low power. They built next-generation servers and PCs. And they are continuing this massive run of silicon for smartphones.
Most servers used to be x86-based. However, the server market has changed. Software is now broken into smaller parts, like containers. This makes it easier to run on other types of hardware, such as ARM.
ARM chips have been used in cars for a long time. But with the rise of self-driving technology, it’s becoming a rapidly growing area. Self-driving cars require a lot of computing power, more than many other tasks we’ve seen. To help with this, ARM created the AVA development platform. It uses 32 of their Neoverse cores to provide a standard platform for software developers to focus on this tough challenge.
ARM is growing because non-chip companies like Amazon and Apple are leveraging ARM to design their own custom silicon. This helps them depend less on traditional chip giants and spend less money. Companies like Microsoft and Apple are now adding chip design as a part of their business (with smaller teams than those in chip-focused companies).
So you have to make that process easier and simpler. That’s where ARM is starting to move in terms of enabling the design of multiple components that connect together. They call it computer subsystems.
Labor is a major challenge across the industry. TSMC, the world’s leading chip maker, is citing a shortage of skilled workers as a reason for delays at its $40 billion chip factory under construction in Arizona. The talent shortage is tough for ARM and the entire industry.
With semiconductor demand set to rise over the next 10 to 15 years, it’s becoming a fierce competition for talent.
To address this, ARM is launching the Semiconductor Education Alliance, aiming to build new pathways for future talent. With the growing demand for chips, especially in generative AI, and the increasing number of companies working on ARM-based processors, the need for ARM technology is skyrocketing.
ARM’s compute platforms are the most energy-efficient in the world. Their performance is consistently improving. ARM offers outstanding performance for every watt of power used. Currently, 70% of the world’s population uses products powered by ARM technology.
Starting from humble origins, ARM has evolved into a key player behind many everyday devices. It’s truly an impressive journey.
And it’s more than just a business success story. They have transformed the way people think about computing efficiency, power consumption, and technological innovation.
As the demand for AI continues to grow, autonomous vehicles require significant computational power, and edge computing is bringing intelligence closer to devices, the future of ARM looks promising.
Want to switch to more recent x86-based servers to replace your PAR-RISC hardware?
Yes they do. They have their own chips based on ARM: the M-series, and A-series.
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