ARM has unveiled its new 64-bit ARMv8 architecture. With ARMv8, the company is introducing two distinct operational modes: AArch64 and AArch32. Early information suggests there are design parallels between AMD’s x86-64 extensions and ARM’s own move to 64-bit computing. ARMv8 chips will support either execution mode, with AArch32 being an exact replica of the current ARMv7 instruction set that’s under the hood of most modern smartphone processors. AArch64 will introduce a new instruction set (A64), but maintains already-established support for the NEON SIMD, Virtuali ation, and Trust one hardware.
“We believe the ARMv8 architecture is ideally suited to enable the ARM partnership to continue to grow in 32-bit application spaces and bring diverse, innovative and energy-efficient solutions to 64-bit processing markets,” said Mike Muller, ARM’s CTO.
ARM has already seeded development tools to certain partners, including Microsoft and Nvidia, but commercial products are still years away. ARM plans to disclose products based on ARMv8 in 2012, with prototype systems aimed at 2014. Given the time frames in question, a certain amount of the chatter this announcement has evoked is misplaced: Microsoft, for example, could do a flavor of Windows 8 that’s compatible with AArch64 — but with Windows 9 rumored to be aiming for a 2014 launch and ARMv8 chips not expected to prototype until then, it’s fairly unlikely.
It’ll be years before ARMv8 has an impact on shipping products, but the architecture’s existence is a further sign of ARM’s long-term aspirations. The first chips based on the Cortex-A15, ARM’s current cutting-edge 32-bit design, are expected to ship next year — and there’s considerable evidence that we’ll see at least a few of them popping up in servers. ARM has made no secret of its enterprise aspirations, and Intel hasn’t missed the company’s intentions; we’ll see 64-bit Xeon Atom servers debut next year as well.
64-bit support is one feature x86 CPUs offer that existing ARM products can’t match — and it’s not a feature mobile phones are going to need any time soon, either. While it’s still years away from fruition, ARMv8 is a major building block of ARM’s effort to transform itself from a mobile CPU developer to a top-to-bottom solution provider.
ARM details new 64-bit ARMv8 architecture, plans for server domination
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