ARM processors are a crucial part of any computer system. They are the devices that allow your computer to interact with the physical world, by controlling and processing input from devices like keyboards, mice, touch screens, and cameras. ARM processors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but all share some common features.
In this article, we’ll take a look at who makes ARM processors and what sets them apart from other processor manufacturers.
Who Makes ARM Processors?
ARM Holdings is best known for its development of the processor, which is used in a wide range of mobile devices. However, what many people don’t know is that ARM Holdings does not actually manufacture its own chips. Instead, they license the designs and architecture to other companies, who then create systems that use ARM cores as their central processors.
This business model has been extremely successful for ARM Holdings and has resulted in their processors being used in everything from smartphones to tablets to wearables. While there are a number of different companies that manufacture ARM processors, some of the most well-known include Qualcomm, Samsung, and Apple.
What is Special About ARM Processors?
Processor performance is becoming increasingly important as we move into an era of big data and artificial intelligence. With ARM processors, it is possible to achieve much higher performance per watt than with traditional CISC-based processors. This is because ARM processors are designed using a Reduced Instruction Set Architecture (RISC) [1].
This means that they only include the most commonly used instructions, making them smaller and simpler than CISC-based processors. As a result, they can execute many more millions of instructions per second per watt, making them ideal for use in energy-constrained environments such as mobile devices. In addition, ARM processors are highly efficient, meaning that they generate very little heat.
This makes them ideal for use in small form factor devices where space and cooling are at a premium. Overall, ARM processors offer a compelling proposition for a wide range of applications.
How Many Cores Are in an ARM Processor?
ARM multi-core processors can contain between one and four cores. Each core can be individually configured to take part (or not) in a data cache coherency management scheme. This allows for cache sharing among multiple processors, which is essential for high-performance computing applications.
However, it also means that the number of cores in an ARM processor can vary depending on the particular needs of the application. For example, a processor with four cores may be more suitable for a desktop computer than a processor with just one or two cores. Ultimately, the number of cores in an ARM processor is determined by the particular requirements of the application.
What Are the Three Categories of ARM Processors?
ARM processors are classified according to their intended purpose. The three main categories are the Cortex-A processors, Cortex-R processors, and Cortex-M processors. Cortex-A processors are designed for applications that require the highest level of performance, such as gaming and video streaming. They offer the fastest clock speed and the most powerful graphics processing capabilities.
Cortex-R processors are designed for real-time applications that need to respond quickly to external events. They offer a high level of performance with very low power consumption. Cortex-M processors are designed for low-power applications such as wearables and IoT devices. They offer reduced energy consumption while still providing good performance.
Selecting the right category of the ARM processor is important to ensure that your application has the right level of performance while also being energy efficient.
How Are ARM Processors So Efficient?
The ARM processor is designed with power efficiency in mind. Various features of the processor contribute to its low power consumption. For example, the processor is pipeline based. This means that the next instruction is being executed while the current instruction is being processed. This helps to avoid idle periods where the processor would consume power without doing any work.
In addition, the processor uses a technique called speculative execution. This means that it guesses which instructions will be needed next and starts processing them in advance. If the guess turns out to be incorrect, the results are simply discarded. This helps to speed up execution time and reduce power consumption. Finally, the ARM processor is designed to be highly configurable.
This allows manufacturers to tailor the processor to their specific needs, which can help to further reduce power consumption. As a result of these features, ARM processors are able to provide high performance while consuming relatively little power.
Conclusion
ARM processors are used in a wide range of devices, from phones and tablets to servers and supercomputers. The company that designs them, ARM Holdings, Ltd., doesn’t actually manufacture the chips itself. Instead, it licenses the designs to other companies, who then build products using those designs.