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CPU Sea Change – Arm Cortex to Replace Arm Design
June 14, 2020
The arrival of the powerhouse Arm Cortex-X1 CPU built in conjunction with select partners in the Arm CXC program, the Cortex-X1 aims to close the performance gap with Apple. However, not every chip designer will have access to this powerhouse core, which gives some partners in the Arm CXC program have a major performance advantage to flaunt others.
The Arm CXC program replaces its previous Build on Arm Cortex initiative, which allowed partners to make small tweaks to its Cortex-A CPUs. for example. Arm CXC takes Qualcomm’s Kryo CPU approach in a different direction. Arm’s partners propose an off-roadmap specification on a yearly basis and Arm itself designs a CPU to meet the requirements with Arm retaining responsibility for maintaining CPU software and marketing. Only partners who are invested at the start of that year’s program benefit from the end product. Multiple partners can be in the program at once and thus have access to shared technology. However, if a company didn’t contribute to the design from the start then it can’t buy the Cortex-X1 off the shelf once it’s finished. This could spell tough luck for a partner or two. Depending on who's in the CXC program, some 2021 flagship phones may be 20%+ more powerful than others. This allows Arm’s partners to request CPUs well outside the standard Cortex-A roadmap, without incurring the risks and expense of designing custom CPUs in-house. Is it a coincidence that Samsung dropped its in-house Mongoose CPU cores shortly before the launch of CXC and the Cortex-X1? Unless CPU designers have very specific requirements or disagree about the yearly CXC goal, there’s little need for a custom architecture license from Arm anymore. Some SoC designers may not have access to the Cortex-X1. Qualcomm seems highly likely to be a regular customer of Arm’s previous program, and Samsung may have dropped Mongoose for this new approach. But it’s unclear whether Huawei and MediaTek are onboard. Depending on those in the CXC program, some flagship Android smartphones could be at least 20% more powerful than others in 2021, Performance differences in the mobile space, is not the only area where Arm and partners are pushing the performance envelope. Arm processors are already making moves in the PC market via the Windows on Arm platform, and Apple is anticipated to launch its first Arm-powered MacBook in 2021. The beefier Cortex-X1 suits this market perfectly. Laptop-tier chipsets, like the Snapdragon 8cx, have diversified from their smartphone counterparts in pursuit of higher performance to challenge Intel and AMD mid-tier chipsets. Results so far have been promising with the Surface Pro X and Samsung Galaxy Book S, but the Cortex-X1 takes performance up to an even more competitive level. The chip could become a key tool in Arm’s move into the PC space. Arm chips could return to high-end Chromebooks and challenge Intel in the laptop space More powerful SoCs in this vein should also be a boon for Arm powered Chromebooks. Intel is currently the chipset of choice for higher-end Chromebooks, but perhaps that will change as Arm performance notches up another level. Either way, the CXC program and the X1 processor could shake up the PC market by making Arm a much more viable processor option. It’s another headache for Intel.
While smartphones don’t need another major boost to processing power, 2021 benchmark comparisons are bound to come thick and fast. Especially if there are major CPU differences between flagship chipsets, such as Qualcomm versus Samsung or Huawei’s Kirin. At the very least, expect a return to the heyday of Apple vs Android benchmarking comparisons as next-gen phones attempt to close the gap.
Late 2020 and 2021 won’t just be framed in terms of the high-end performance debate though. There’s notable growth in premium handsets that don’t demand the absolute pinnacle of performance. Upper mid-tier chipsets like the Snapdragon 765G power the LG Velvet and is anticipated for the Google Pixel 5 as well. How these phones stack up against more expensive flagship phones will frame the debate around required and enthusiast performance. Major smartphones look set to diverge majorly on performance over the coming months certainly well into 2021. While flagship phones push the envelope to new heights, there’s a growing need to balance affordability. It’s interesting times ahead for performance enthusiasts. From: androidauthority
June 14, 2020
The arrival of the powerhouse Arm Cortex-X1 CPU built in conjunction with select partners in the Arm CXC program, the Cortex-X1 aims to close the performance gap with Apple. However, not every chip designer will have access to this powerhouse core, which gives some partners in the Arm CXC program have a major performance advantage to flaunt others.
The Arm CXC program replaces its previous Build on Arm Cortex initiative, which allowed partners to make small tweaks to its Cortex-A CPUs. for example. Arm CXC takes Qualcomm’s Kryo CPU approach in a different direction. Arm’s partners propose an off-roadmap specification on a yearly basis and Arm itself designs a CPU to meet the requirements with Arm retaining responsibility for maintaining CPU software and marketing. Only partners who are invested at the start of that year’s program benefit from the end product. Multiple partners can be in the program at once and thus have access to shared technology. However, if a company didn’t contribute to the design from the start then it can’t buy the Cortex-X1 off the shelf once it’s finished. This could spell tough luck for a partner or two. Depending on who's in the CXC program, some 2021 flagship phones may be 20%+ more powerful than others. This allows Arm’s partners to request CPUs well outside the standard Cortex-A roadmap, without incurring the risks and expense of designing custom CPUs in-house. Is it a coincidence that Samsung dropped its in-house Mongoose CPU cores shortly before the launch of CXC and the Cortex-X1? Unless CPU designers have very specific requirements or disagree about the yearly CXC goal, there’s little need for a custom architecture license from Arm anymore. Some SoC designers may not have access to the Cortex-X1. Qualcomm seems highly likely to be a regular customer of Arm’s previous program, and Samsung may have dropped Mongoose for this new approach. But it’s unclear whether Huawei and MediaTek are onboard. Depending on those in the CXC program, some flagship Android smartphones could be at least 20% more powerful than others in 2021, Performance differences in the mobile space, is not the only area where Arm and partners are pushing the performance envelope. Arm processors are already making moves in the PC market via the Windows on Arm platform, and Apple is anticipated to launch its first Arm-powered MacBook in 2021. The beefier Cortex-X1 suits this market perfectly. Laptop-tier chipsets, like the Snapdragon 8cx, have diversified from their smartphone counterparts in pursuit of higher performance to challenge Intel and AMD mid-tier chipsets. Results so far have been promising with the Surface Pro X and Samsung Galaxy Book S, but the Cortex-X1 takes performance up to an even more competitive level. The chip could become a key tool in Arm’s move into the PC space. Arm chips could return to high-end Chromebooks and challenge Intel in the laptop space More powerful SoCs in this vein should also be a boon for Arm powered Chromebooks. Intel is currently the chipset of choice for higher-end Chromebooks, but perhaps that will change as Arm performance notches up another level. Either way, the CXC program and the X1 processor could shake up the PC market by making Arm a much more viable processor option. It’s another headache for Intel.
While smartphones don’t need another major boost to processing power, 2021 benchmark comparisons are bound to come thick and fast. Especially if there are major CPU differences between flagship chipsets, such as Qualcomm versus Samsung or Huawei’s Kirin. At the very least, expect a return to the heyday of Apple vs Android benchmarking comparisons as next-gen phones attempt to close the gap.
Late 2020 and 2021 won’t just be framed in terms of the high-end performance debate though. There’s notable growth in premium handsets that don’t demand the absolute pinnacle of performance. Upper mid-tier chipsets like the Snapdragon 765G power the LG Velvet and is anticipated for the Google Pixel 5 as well. How these phones stack up against more expensive flagship phones will frame the debate around required and enthusiast performance. Major smartphones look set to diverge majorly on performance over the coming months certainly well into 2021. While flagship phones push the envelope to new heights, there’s a growing need to balance affordability. It’s interesting times ahead for performance enthusiasts. From: androidauthority
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