AMD started using ARM Cortex A5 to add TrustZone security to their x86 processor, they followed with their ARM based Opteron A1100 processor for server last year, recently they announced Hierofalcon embedded processors powered by up to eight Cortex A57 processor, and starting this year and beyond, the company will launch “ultra-low power’ mobile SoCs using ARM cores, at least according to a leaked roadmap.
Two ARM families are planned:
- “Amur” APU planned for 2015 with:
- Up to 4 ARM Cortex A57 cores
- GCN Graphics Compute Units
- AMD Secure Processor (Trustzone?)
- ~2W TDP
- 20nm process, FT4 BGA package
- “Styx” APU planned for 2016 with:
- Up to two “K12” CPU cores. These should be high performance custom-designed ARM cores.
- Next-gen GCN Graphics Compute Units
- Full HSA 1.0 support (Heterogeneous System Architecture)
- AMD Secure Processor
- ~2W TDP
- 14 nm process, FT4 BGA package
With this kind of thermal dissipation, AMD Android and Windows tablets are the likely candidates for such chips, as well as certainly low power mini PCs and HDMI sticks.
Via Liliputing and CPU World
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Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I’m confused:
These AMD CPU’s are ARM, right?
If so, how can they be used for Windows tablets, as I thought Windows on tablets was back to x86-only (after the failure of Windows RT)?
@Sander
Good point! Yesterday, I heard Microsoft talked about “Qualcomm parts” for Continuum on Windows 10, so I just assumed Windows 10 would be available on ARM.
Some website reports Microsoft will support small tablets (up to 8″) -> http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-confirms-windows-10-will-come-to-small-arm-tablets
@cnxsoft
“for ARM-based phones, phablets and small tablets up to 8 inches”. OK, so coming from the phone side, so Windows Phone, which will become “Windows 10 for mobile devices”.
Something like that?
I’m afraid AMD first needs to really deliver Opteron A1100 and then I’d believe their slides claims. For now, this is just a hot air nothing more…
@kcg
Touche … AMD is all talk these days but really have nothing to show … luckily for them Intel isn’t too good at executing either but I think if they really want to compete in the ARM world they do need to launch faster as there’s more competition.
@Sander: You should’t outrule the possibility, that the APU codenamed “Basilisk” in the slides will also be used for tablets. After all, it seems to use the same FT4 BGA connector, which would be plausible, given AMD’s “Project Skybridge” plans for pin-to-pin compatible x86 and ARM chips.
In other news: AMD says, a slide about “Zen”, that has been published in the linked discussion thread by the same user, who has posted the above roadmap, is a fake: http://www.planet3dnow.de/vbulletin/threads/421433-AMD-Zen-14nm-8-Kerne-95W-TDP-DDR4?p=5005404&viewfull=1#post5005404
@ftyh
AMD’s own official roadmaps are fake since they never stick to them. They seem to just be there to confuse the competition or something.
Seriously I love AMD, I usually buy from them but they really have a problem with launches these days.
@Sander
The k12 core (styx apu) yes, the zen core is a x86 close to what intel is doing now.
mass graves too much for you?
Finally, K12 is now for 2017 -> http://liliputing.com/2015/05/amds-new-arm-chip-plan-a1100-ships-this-year-k12-in-2017.html