ARM

ARM, previously Advanced RISC Machine, originally Acorn RISC Machine, is a family of RISC for computer processors, configured for various environments. (formerly ) develops the architecture and licenses it to other companies, who design their own products that implement one of those architectures—including s (SoC) and s (SoM) that incorporate memory, interfaces, radios, etc. It also designs that implement this and licenses these designs to a number of companies that incorporate those core designs into their own products.
==Background==
Processors that have a RISC architecture typically require fewer s than those with a (CISC) architecture (such as the x86 processors found in most personal computers), which improves cost, power consumption, and heat dissipation. These characteristics are desirable for light, portable, battery-powered devices—including s, s and s, and other s"Some facts about the Acorn RISC Machine" posting to comp.arch, 2 November 1988. Retrieved 25 May 2007.—but are also useful for s and to some degree. For s, which consume large amounts of electricity, ARM is also a power-efficient solution.
With over 130 billion ARM processors produced, As of 2019, ARM is the most widely used (ISA) and the ISA produced in the largest quantity. Currently, the widely used Cortex s, older "classic" cores, and specialized variants are available for each of these to include or exclude optional capabilities.
===Market competition===
Arm's main CPU competitors in servers include IBM, Intel and AMD. Intel competed with Arm-based chips in mobile, but Arm no longer has any competition in that space (however, vendors of actual Arm-based chips compete within that space). Arm's main GPU competitors include mobile GPUs from American and Japanese technology companies (), (), and increasingly Nvidia and Intel. Despite competing within GPUs, Qualcomm and Nvidia have combined their GPUs with Arm-licensed CPUs.
===Ownership===
Arm had a primary listing on the and was a constituent of the . It also had a secondary listing on . However Japanese telecommunications company made an agreed offer for Arm on 18 July 2016, subject to approval by Arm's shareholders, valuing the company at £24.3 billion.BBC. “ARM chip designer to be bought by Japan's SoftBank 18 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016. The transaction was completed on 5 September 2016.
On 13 September 2020, it was announced that Nvidia would buy Arm from SoftBank for $40 billion, subject to regulatory approval, with the latter acquiring a 10% share in Nvidia. In December 2021, the filed a lawsuit to block the deal, claiming that Nvidia's ownership of could stifle innovation and competition in the processor market.FTC sues to block Nvidia's $40B acquisition of Arm by Mike Peterson, AppleInsider. 2021-12-02.
==Apple and ARM==
In the late 1980s, Apple Computer and started working with Acorn on newer versions of the ARM core. In 1990, Acorn spun off the design team into a new company named Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.,ARM milestones, ARM company website. Retrieved 8 April 2015 which became ARM Ltd when its parent company, plc, was floated on the and in 1998. Apple invested 3 million for a 30% stake in the venture. The new Apple-ARM work would eventually evolve into the ARM6, first released in early 1992. Apple used the ARM6-based ARM610 as the basis for their Newton PDA. However, with disappointing sales, Apple closed down the Newton Systems Group in 1998 and sold its stake in ARM for $800 million in desperately needed cash.How The Newton And ARM Saved Apple From Death, The CPU Shack Museum. 2010-10-26.
In 2001, Apple released the first iPod, which used a ARM-based processor from PortalPlayer and ran an operating system designed by Pixo, which was co-founded and staffed by former Newton employees.Little-known startup was behind iPod's easy-to-use interface / Firm's founder now working on the latest handhelds by Matthew Yi, San Francisco Chronicle. 2004-08-16.
Apple licensed ARM technology for the A4, A5, and A5X and other early processors used in its iPhone and iPad lines. However, Apple acquired P.A. Semi for $278 million in April 2008 to bring in-house to the company. The Apple A6 contained a custom CPU designed internally at Apple (called "Swift") instead of one licensed from ARM.
==References==
==See also==
*PowerPC
==External links==
*Arm Ltd official website
**ARM Developer
*Writing ARM64 Code for Apple Platforms at Apple Developer
*
* and at Wikipedia
===Articles===
*Ten years of Apple technology shifts made the ARM Mac possible by Mike Peterson at AppleInsider (2020-06-12)
Category:Acronyms
Category:1983 introductions