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It should come as no surprise that Microsoft is looking to follow Apple in designing its own ARM-based processors that are compatible with Windows 10. The latest leak focuses on Windows servers, but there is a hint of consumer devices. there. as well.
Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer at Microsoft Corp., shows the Surface Pro X hybrid tablet and … [+]
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Microsoft’s current ARM-based family, Surface Pro X is powered by silicon developed in partnership between Microsoft and Qualcomm, with Qualcomm’s first and second generation 8cx processors at the heart of Microsoft’s SQ1 and SQ2.
Moving to its own ARM chip design could allow Microsoft to reap the same benefits that Apple has found with its M1 processor. The latter has specific circuitry that works in conjunction with macOS ‘low-level code, offering significant speed and efficiency benefits.
Microsoft Windows runs on a much larger technology footprint, with different manufacturers and different chipsets. It has to be much more universal and offer wider compatibility. To achieve that reach, you need to trade something, and it’s the incredible connections between software and hardware that Apple can lean on.
Certainly, Microsoft has benefits in designing its own silicon, but it would need to control the computer hardware and software to get the maximum benefit. The latest news may not have much detail, but the wide scope suggests that’s the plan. Ian King and Dina Bass for Bloomberg:
“The world’s largest software maker is using Arm Ltd.’s designs to produce a processor to be used in its data centers, according to people familiar with the plans. It is also exploring the use of another chip that would power part of its line. Surface of personal computers. People asked not to be identified discussing private initiatives. “
The effort appears to be driven by cloud computing, and if all is well, running your own silicon on your servers will allow for the natural benefits of increased processing power with less energy and heat will allow for better performance from any farm. servers.
But it’s the potential for a more closely integrated consumer device that has come to the fore, and personally that excites me.
The aforementioned Surface Pro X has shown that the Windows 10 project on ARM is ready for general use, and as 2020 draws to a close, the beta version of the 64-bit emulation joins the 32-bit emulation and the ability to run native ARM64, opening the vast catalog of Windows applications.
It is also notable that the two emulation options do not offer performance that matches running applications on an x86-based machine, and the impact on battery life is high. That’s in contrast to the feel of running macOS x86 apps on the new M1-powered MacBooks and macMini. The reason is simple, the extra grunt on Apple machines makes up for the inefficiencies that any emulation layer has.
Microsoft, by creating a bespoke Arm chip, will take the best of the Surface Pro X (and there’s a lot to like) and pair it with the tight integration of Windows 10 and the new chip would certainly bridge the gap that now exists between Windows and macOS. . .
The question might be how far along will Apple’s new hardware be when Microsoft catches up with first-generation M1 hardware.
Now read more about the impact of the ARM race on the desktop web browser …
