ARM Architecture

ARM Architecture

Arm Architecture. Group 17: Amber Luu, Paul Lewis

Overview What does ARM stand for? Who created it The RISC approach Difference from other CPUs Current uses New applications Raspberry Pi Future uses Final Remarks Resources


ARM ARM stands for Advanced RISC

Machine Reduced Instruction Set

Computer Originally Acorn RISC Machine

Acorn- British computer company

ARM architecture describes a family of computer processors designed in accordance with a RISC CPU design


Who Created It? Developed by the advanced

research and development team at Acorn Computers

Was one of the leading names in British personal computer market

At the time it was considered to be the British version of Apple

Originally conceived for use in their personal computers.


Rethinking Their Approach

Their original architecture worked great until IBM started building much more powerful computers.

They tried many different designs but none were suitable for a graphics based user interface.

After reading about the Berkeley RISC project, they decided that if a class of graduate students could create a competitive processor, they could too.


The RISC Approach The official Acorn RISC Machine project

started in October 1983 The core ARM processor requires

significantly fewer transistors than processors that would typically be found in a traditional computer.

Benefits include:

– Lower costs

– Less heat

– Less power usage


Acorn No More

The company was incorporated in 1990, the acronym was changed to stand for "Advanced RISC Machines."

Then, at the time of the IPO in 1998, the company name was changed to "ARM Holdings."


Difference From Other CPUs

Marketing and Production

– ARM itself doesn't make chips - it licenses the IP needed to make ARM-based processors.

– This lets Samsung, Qualcomm, Nvidia and up to 15 other outfits to bring in their own tech and that of third parties to create a product tailored for an application.

– Instead of AMD and Intel where they create a one-size-fits-all chip designed and manufactured by a single company.


Current Usage In 2011, ARM's customers reported 7.9 billion

ARM processors shipped, representing: 95% of smartphones 90% of hard disk drives 40% of digital televisions and set-top boxes 15% of microcontrollers 20% of mobile computers


You Have Probably Used One Today

Most notable current uses: Apple iPad / iPhone Microsoft Surface ASUS Eee Transformer Nintendo DS TomTom


What Does This Mean For You?

Increased competition for leading chip manufacturers.

With how easily they can be custom designed, there will be more and more options for people who want them as they become more powerful.

Best example: Raspberry Pi


Raspberry Pi Credit card sized computer Weighs 45g Invented to encourage a new generation of

young people to get into computing Plugs into TV or monitor 512MB RAM, HDMI, SD, LAN, 2 USB, Audio, RCA Video, GPIO Runs Debian/Arch/etc. Cost $25 or $35


What Can You Do With It? Make a HTPC Can play 1080p video Create a fully functional SNES emulator Mini webserver


Growing Support Apple to dump Intel? Apple engineers are becoming confident

that the ARM chip design they use for iPhones/iPads will become powerful enough for PCs.

Most major Linux distros support it. Google added ARM support to Chrome's

Native Client.


The Next Generation Cortex-A-50 series Energy-efficient 64-bit processing

technology. Will provide performance up to three times

that of today's superphones without increasing power usage.


Final Remarks

Will it ever replace AMD or Intel? Emerging use in servers. The usefulness of the Raspberry Pi project.


ResourcesAtack, C, Someren A. (1993). The ARM RISC Chip: A

Programmers' Guide. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.

Jan 11, 2013. Raspberry Pi. http://www.raspberrypi.org.

Jan 18, 2013. ARM The Architecture for the Digital World. http://www.arm.com/products/processors/cortex-a50/

October 30, 2012. ARM's 2014 processors will blow today's smartphone chips away, with 3x the performance or 1/4 the battery drain.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/30/3576560/arm-cortex-a57-cortex-a53-cpu-core


ARM Architecture

Arm Architecture: Amber Luu, Paul Lewis

ARM Architecture

Documents

Transcript of ARM Architecture