Intel disses the iPhone’s ARM CPU

by Scott Bicheno on 22 October 2008, 16:54

Tags: Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), ARM

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Issues

There are a few issues that need to be addressed before we accept the premise of Intel's latest proclamation:

  • Does the iPhone struggle with some web applications?
  • Is there strong demand for greater processing power in mobile phones than ARM-based processors can provide?
  • Is it viable to put an Atom in a mobile phone?
  • Will the MID form-factor catch on?
  • What has ARM got up its sleeve?

We don't claim to have the answers to these questions but we'd love to hear what you think. Does Intel have a point or is it barking up the wrong tree. Let us know in the HEXUS.community.

 


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HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Posted by deleted - Wed 22 Oct 2008 18:48
The ARM procesor has been around forever, and its an obvious choice for Mobiles and such as they've been used in them for ages. However the iPhone is all about different, and all about innovation, so it is suprising they went for the ARM. I'm sure there are much better architectures around. I mean we have PSPs and DSs for cheaper than the iPhone, and they have a fair amount of proccessing wallop, so for 3 times the price, many people expect 3 times the wallop. The technology is out there and as great as the ARM chip is, I don't think it does live up to the iPhones reputation and lets it down a little.

Saying all of that though, it seems to manage well enough for a phone. Its just a shame we cant at the moment compare it to beefier pieces of kit.

Wallop!
Posted by deleted - Thu 23 Oct 2008 00:40
Deleted
..I mean we have PSPs and DSs for cheaper than the iPhone, and they have a fair amount of proccessing wallop, so for 3 times the price, many people expect 3 times the wallop.

I stand to be correced but don't DS's use some kind of ARM chip, not sure on the figures but I was under the impression that they were at much lower clock speeds than an Iphone or Ipod Touch. Maybe its the way they're programed that the makes preformance difference.
Posted by deleted - Thu 23 Oct 2008 10:01
Deleted
I stand to be correced but don't DS's use some kind of ARM chip, not sure on the figures but I was under the impression that they were at much lower clock speeds than an Iphone or Ipod Touch. Maybe its the way they're programed that the makes preformance difference.

Yes the DS and DS lite use ARM chips, and the PSP uses a MIPS chips which is also a RISC architecture in the same way ARM chips are (and unlike Intel chips). In fact in terms of clock speed the DS ARM chips are about ten times less than the ARM chips in the iPhone. So it's purely about the specific implementation of the architecture used and how it's applied. It seems rather a general sweeping statement to say “ARM chips are bad”. Although I've always had a soft spot for ARM anyway being very much a fan of Acorn computers (what ARM developed out of).
Posted by deleted - Thu 23 Oct 2008 17:59
Funny how intel were once gay for ARM ( XScale, they sold it around 2005) only to come up with this attack.

I can remember reading an old pc mag (pcpro) when they did an artical on how ARM was going to change the world…. nice to know it has actualy made an impact.

Imp