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ARM unveils new processor for cheaper smartphones
ARM has announced the ARM Cortex-A7 MPCore processor, which the company claims is the most energy-efficient application class processor it has ever developed. The new processor will enable a rich user experience in entry-level smartphones and help connect the next billion people in developing markets, the company said.
A single Cortex-A7 processor delivers 5x the energy-efficiency and is one fifth the size of the Cortex-A8 processor, while providing significantly greater performance, ARM indicated.
The Cortex-A7 processor occupies less than 0.5mm2, using 28nm process technology, and provides compelling performance in both single and multicore configurations. Used as a stand-alone processor, the Cortex-A7 will deliver sub-US$100 smartphones in the 2013-2014 timeframe with an equivalent level of processing performance to today's US$500 high-end smartphones, according to ARM.
One of today's technology most significant challenges is how to create a SoC that meets the conflicting consumer demand for devices with both higher-performance and extended battery life. Big.LITTLE processing, enabled by Cortex-A7, achieves this by pairing high-performance Cortex-A15 MPCore and ultra-efficient Cortex-A7 processors, ARM said.
Big.LITTLE processing combines two different, but compatible processors within the same SoC and allows the power management software to seamlessly select the right processor, or multiple processors, for the right task, ARM indicated. The processors appear identical from an applications software perspective. The approach enables highly-optimized processing which results in significant energy savings for common workloads, ARM added.
ARM revealed that its partners supporting these technologies include Broadcom, Compal, Freescale, HiSilicon, LG Electronics, Linaro, OK Labs, QNX, Redbend, Samsung, Sprint, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments.
"As smartphones and tablets continue to evolve into users' primary compute device, consumers are demanding performance as well as the always on, always connected service they expect. The challenge for our industry and the ARM ecosystem is how to deliver on this," said Mike Inglis, Executive VP, Processor Division, ARM. "The introduction of Cortex-A7 and big.LITTLE addresses this challenge and extends ARM's technology leadership by setting a new standard for energy-efficient processors and redefining the traditional power and performance relationship."
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