ARM processor-count can exceed that of Intel in modern PCs

LONDON — It is easy to think that personal computer is powered by an Intel processor — or possibly one from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. — while a mobile phone will have a specialized baseband processor with an ARM processor core embedded in it keeping house.

And at one level that's true. But such is the increasing penetration of ARM's licensed processor cores that the ARM processor count can exceed that of Intel in modern PCs and laptop computers.

While there is one Intel processor, possibly a dual-core component, if you have a Bluetooth connection it could have an ARM processor core. If you have WiFi on the motherboard, you could have another ARM processor core. You will have a hard-disk controller, and that could be powered by an ARM processor core.

Warren East, president and CEO of ARM, told EE Times that his company's penetration of the PC market was relatively small so far but growing. "It's a small minority at the moment. For example Atheros [for WiFi] doesn’t use an ARM core and CSR [for Bluetooth] doesn't."

But as personal computers proliferate to encompass netbooks and as companies work with processor companies to accelerate particular applications, East said he expected the penetration of ARM processors to increase, aided by their ability to deliver low power consumption.

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