News & Analysis
Marvell claims first quad-core ARM processor
Peter Clarke
1/6/2010 9:41 AM EST
Marvell's quad-core implementation can operate at above 1-GHz clock frequency on all four cores providing high performance in those applications that can keep four cores fed with data.
Marvell (Santa Clara, Calif.) said the quad-core has been designed for "high volume gaming applications" and other mass consumer applications.
The quad-core is based on the same CPU architecture as Marvell's recently launched Armada 500 and 600 processors. These are declared to be ARMv7 instruction set architecture processors but it has not been revealed whether they are based on Marvell designs from the ground up or on a core supplied as intellectual property by ARM Holdings plc (Cambridge, England), such as the Cortex-A8 or Cortex-A9.
The Cortex-A9 is an ARMv7 processor designed to support up to four-way multiprocessing.
Marvell did not indicate what process technology the quad-core is implemented in, where it is being manufactured, what on-chip memory is provided or the quad-core's typical power consumption. Nor did Marvell indicate whether the quad-core design is complete and awaiting manufacture, or whether it already has silicon in hand.
"Introducing our quad-core technology to the world represents a pivotal moment in CPU development for the consumer electronics industry," said Weili Dai, Marvell's co-founder and general manager of Marvell's consumer and computing business unit.
"Before Armada, the ARM ecosystem was thought to be limited by performance barriers. Now, with this announcement of its quad-core technology, Marvell is showing the world the ARM ecosystem's true potential while cementing its position among the leaders in advanced CPU development for mass market consumer applications," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst with the Enderle Group, in a statement issued by Marvell.
Related links and articles:
ARM announces dual-core 'Osprey' A9 core as Atom-beater
Marvell tops analyst estimates
Marvell lifts sales target on improved demand
Outgoing Sony exec Kutaragi already planning PS4
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dirk.bruere
1/6/2010 12:54 PM EST
How long before ARM starts to supplant Intel/AMD in domestic PCs?
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Peter Clarke
1/7/2010 5:11 AM EST
Maybe you guys are considering the wrong target. Maybe Marvell's four-ARM smash is aimed at IBM and replacing the Cell processor in the Sony Playstation?
There have been rumors that Cell processor is being designed out of the PS4 in favor of a more mainstream multiprocessor.
Well this fits the socket in those respects and Marvell has indicated it is for "high-volume gaming applications."
Of course the graphics and the interactivity is likely to be key to the success of any future gaming machine and so we should probably look to the supplier with the best GPU + CPU + Parallel processing compilation solution.
Any thoughts?
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Peter Clarke
1/8/2010 5:26 AM EST
Kenton,
The "any thoughts" was really aimed at nominations around the companies with best-in-class GPU + CPU + parallel compilation.....
As to your luke-warm response to Marvell's announcement; I take your point.
When the story broke I sent 11 questions concerning the quad-core ARM to Marvell.
They said they would get back to me.
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