ARM processors to ship in one in four notebooks by 2015
1 min read
ARM processors are expected to be used in nearly a quarter of all notebook pcs by 2015. According to IHS iSuppli, this will provide 'real competition' for Intel's X86 microarchitecture.
The market research firm anticipates that ARM based systems will account for 22.9% of global notebook pc unit shipments in 2015, up from 3% in 2012.
"Starting in 1981, when IBM first created its original pc based on Intel's 8088 microprocessor, the X86 architecture has dominated the pc market," said Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst of compute platforms for IHS. "Over the next generation, billions of pcs were shipped based on X86 microprocessors supplied by Intel and assorted rivals.
"However, the days of X86's unchallenged domination are coming to an end as Windows 8 opens the door for the use of the ARM processor, which already has achieved enormous popularity in the mobile phone and tablet worlds."
Windows 8 is expected to support ARM based pc systems in some versions. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would work with ARM based SoC designs, instead of the standalone X86 microprocessors.
During the next few years, the company is expected to achieve its biggest successes in the value notebook segment. IHS believes this will also provide growth opportunities for suppliers of the chip, including Nvidia, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments.
