Intel’s x86 vs ARM Architecture
Intel’s x86 vs ARM Architecture..
Before talking about their differences, let’s first understand what are x86 and ARM Architecture.
INTEL’S x86 : x86 is based on the family of 8086 Intel microprocessors which were developed during 1880s by Intel. The x86 term was coined due to the successors of 8086 which had “86” as the last term. Now x86 is a family of “SET OF INSTRUCTIONS (ISA)”. The X86 Architecture basically defines how the instructions passed from OS or software are handled and executed. This means it provides a logical framework for executing functions through this microprocessors.
These processors handle the programmatic functions and provides services such as memory addressing, software/hardware interrupt handling, data types, registers and input/output management.
Most of the x86 nowadays have a 32 bit system and the 64 bit systems in x86 are differently known as “x64". They are mostly used in PC’s and devices which require high performance.
ARM Architecture : “Advanced RISC Machines” as the name implies the ARM processors are the family of CPUs which are based on RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) Architecture. The first ARM Processor was developed by Cambridge University in 1978. ARM processors are mostly used in embedded system or wireless communication service providing devices. And they are configured for different environments as needed.
ARM ltd. is the company that develops this Architecture and licenses it to other companies for them to develop their own designed SoC’s or SoM’s that have different components such as memory, interfaces and radio. They also develop the main cores and lend it to other companies for them to design their products accordingly.
As of now over 200Billion+ ARM based devices are circulating in the market. This signifies how important ARM Architecture is for this Human Race.
Mobiles, Wearables, Supercomputers, Gadgets, etc. use ARM Architecture.
Now let’s talk about the main differences between X86 and ARM Architecture.
The first major difference between X86 and ARM is that X86 is based on CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) Architecture while ARM is based on RISC. CISC Architecture is mainly used for better performance but it also needs more power to decode the Complex Instructions. ARM offers less instruction set and hence requires less power than X86 to function.
Both X86 and ARM have been developed and advanced into 64 bit from the original 16 or 32 bit systems. 64 bit systems are faster than 32 bit as it provides more RAM and does parallel processing with a more significant 64-bit data bus. The first original X86 Architecture was of 16-bit which was later improved to 32-bit in i386. Then it was upgraded again to 64-bit by AMD in 2003 in their Opteron Processor.
PC’s upgraded to the 64 bit Architecture long before mobiles did. Both the Android and Apple’s IOS devices run on ARM Architecture.
ARM introduced ARMv8 64-bit architecture in 2011. In this new Architecture the ARMv8 could work both as a 32 bit and 64 bit instruction set. This was possible because of its two execution states making it more user friendly as it could also handle previous generation(32 bit)based applications. Somewhat same thing has also been done by INTEL in it’s X86 processors.
ARM has won over the Smartphones because of its compatibility and low TDP (Thermal Design Power) which means it requires less power to operate compared to that of X86. While X86 are widely used by Intel for PC’s and their i-series family of microprocessors which are made for better, faster and high performance end PC’s.
As of today, ARM is steadily growing it’s market in the Laptops and PC segments due its low TDP and high efficiency than X86. Apple has also announced their own ARM chips for their Mac series. ARM vs X86 is mostly fought in the Laptop segment around the 10W TDP.
Not to mention the world’s fastest supercomputer runs on ARM Architecture.
Intel still stands out for it’s raw performance and power but in todays where we are suffering Energy crisis, high efficiency and low power consumptions also comes into the main picture which are the strong footholds of ARM.
To take on the fight with ARM’s low TDP, Intel is also making efforts in their Lakefield which share similar trend with classical ARM used in mobiles.
Examples of X86 are : Intel’s 80186, 80286, 80386 and 80486 — i3, i7, i9 and their new generations.
Examples of ARM are: Cortex , Apple’s Bionic chipsets and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips.
In the near future we’ll see the battle between x86 and ARM getting intense with each passing day as new technologies and methods are being produced depending on one’s need.
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Authors : Sharv Apte, Shashank Chafekanade, Atharva Deore, Aneesh Deshmukh and Isha Deshpande.
