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This is actually an article about x86 and ARM processors, rather than Intel against ARM. If you're talking about companies, AMD is really the one playing catch-
by quacker 15y ago
This is actually an article about x86 and ARM processors, rather than Intel against ARM. If you're talking about companies, AMD is really the one playing catch-up. But I don't see x86 going away until Windows is gone, or until Windows becomes widely used on ARM processors (the next version of Windows will support ARM according to Microsoft).
Intel could start serious production of ARM processors if it wanted to (and Intel's XScale processors were/are ARM-based). It would be significant change, but Intel has the money and engineers to make it work. I'm sure Intel could incorporate its Tri-Gate transistors into an ARM design as well.
- msbarnett 15y ago> Intel's XScale processors were/are ARM-based Intel actually sold off their license and XScale IP to Marvell a few years ago. I'm not positive, but I think they'd have to buy a new Architecture License to get back into ARM.
- a-priori 15y agoAccording to this site, Intel retained the license as part of the sale. http://www.reghardware.com/2006/06/27/intel_sells_xscale/ http://www.reghardware.com/2006/06/27/intel_sells_xscale/
- mey 15y ago14nm, ARM, Tri-Gate would be interesting, and given Intel's competence in R&D they could easily leap-frog other ARM producers. The unfortunate thing is I don't see a new instruction set gaining new ground anytime soon outside ARM and x86 for consumer applications. I wonder what legal agreements Sun had in place for it's RISC based SPARC chips, and if it would have made sense for Intel to buy them to leverage their hardware division to make RISC chips for server and handset applications. (Also would've been interesting on the ZFS/SSD front.) (Of course Intel has never really be heavily dedicated to software, but buying Sun would've given them that power all at once.)
- agyl 15y ago> Intel's XScale processors were/are ARM-based That is right but the XScale processors were designed as network processors for layer2/3 switches. By today's standard XScale processors are very slow and outdated.
- philwelch 15y ago> or until Windows becomes widely used on ARM processors (the next version of Windows will support ARM according to Microsoft) Color me skeptical. We were through this before, with PowerPC.