超微(AMD)宣布，將在該公司的加速處理單元(APU)中采用 ARM 的 Cortex-A5 CPU核心，以打造一個全新的安全處理器平臺。該公司表示，內(nèi)含 ARM 核心的新產(chǎn)品預(yù)計明年就緒。 最近幾個月以來，業(yè)界一直揣測 AMD 開始整合 ARM 核心的可能性，這也是首度在單芯片中同時整合 x86 和 ARM 這兩大競爭架構(gòu)。AMD資深副總裁暨信息長 Mike Wolfe 表示， ARM 的這項(xiàng)授權(quán)是該公司與 AMD 策略合作的一部份，旨在強(qiáng)化 AMD APU 的安全性能。 Wolfe 表示， AMD 與 ARM 的協(xié)議在很大程度上是因?yàn)樗階RM的TrustZone安全技術(shù)納入其未來的APU。 AMD原本打算為其APU開發(fā)自有安全平臺，但最終該公司認(rèn)為，應(yīng)該多從客戶觀點(diǎn)考量，選擇業(yè)界標(biāo)準(zhǔn)解決方案TrustZone。TrustZone技術(shù)于2004年問世，目前已經(jīng)具備完整的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)。

左邊是AMD的Phil Rogers.右邊是ARM的Jem Davies
NlFesmc

“我們希望能將ARM的TrustZone技術(shù)延伸到x86產(chǎn)品上，”Wolfe說。 AMD 和 ARM 之間的授權(quán)協(xié)議一直是業(yè)界深感興趣的話題，因?yàn)?ARM 的執(zhí)行長曾經(jīng)在2011年的AMD Fusion開發(fā)者高峰會上發(fā)表談話──這味著以英特爾為首的x86陣營，以及ARM架構(gòu)之間的爭斗態(tài)勢已出現(xiàn)轉(zhuǎn)變。以英特爾為主的x86架構(gòu)長期支配著 PC市場，而強(qiáng)調(diào)能效的ARM架構(gòu)則立宰著行動世界。 “在某些方面，ARM和AMD可說是完全處于對立，”AMD院士Leendert van Doom?！暗艺J(rèn)為，在未來的運(yùn)算世代，我們的關(guān)系將與過去截然不同?！?但Wolfe表示，這項(xiàng)合作并不能決定ARM架構(gòu)與x86之間的未來發(fā)展?！拔覀兿嘈?，未來幾年內(nèi)，x86仍然會是資料中心領(lǐng)域的主導(dǎo)架構(gòu)?！? 今年二月份，AMD CEO Rory Read曾經(jīng)暗示，為了讓該公司的架構(gòu)策略更加‘靈活’，AMD可能會取得ARM的授權(quán)。四月份，ARM CEO Warren East指出，該公司正在努力說服AMD采用ARM的處理器。East表示，AMD是在重新考量其策略后簽署了授權(quán)協(xié)議。 Van Doom指出，AMD計劃明年開始供應(yīng)內(nèi)含Cortex-A5核心的APU。依照規(guī)劃，首批產(chǎn)品將會是2013年推出的G系列APU，主要用在平板和超薄計算機(jī)中，到2014年，該公司所有APU都將內(nèi)含ARM核心。 Wolfe和Van Doom 表示，TrustZone可提供監(jiān)控能力，有助于防止惡意存取，能保護(hù)敏感資料，能在硬件層運(yùn)作。他們也列舉了幾個最近登上報紙頭條的病毒新聞，以強(qiáng)調(diào)運(yùn)算環(huán)境對安全功能的需求。 編譯： Joy Teng 本文下一頁：參考英文原文：AMD to integrate ARM core into APUs，by Dylan McGrath

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{pagination} AMD to integrate ARM core into APUs Dylan McGrath BELLEVUE, Wash.—Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) will develop a platform security processor using an ARM Cortex-A5 CPU for inclusion in accelerated processing units (APUs) that will be available starting next year, the company said Wednesday (June 13). The move, which had been speculated on in recent months, means that for the first time rival x86 and ARM architectures will be integrated together in a monolithic ICs. The ARM license is part of a larger strategic partnership between AMD and ARM to enhance the security features of ARM's APUs, according to Mike Wolfe, AMD senior vice president and chief information officer. Wolfe said AMD made the deal with ARM largely because it wanted to incorporate ARM's TrustZone security technology into its future APUs. AMD originally planned to develop its own security platform for APUs, but ultimately determined it made more sense from a customer perspective to go with an industry-standard solution, TrustZone, that has been around since 2004 and is backed by a comprehensive ecosystem. "We wanted to leverage ARM's TrustZone and extend it into the x86 space," Wolfe said. The license deal between AMD and ARM—which has been the subject of speculation since an ARM executive spoke at AMD's 2011 Fusion Developer Summit—represents a seismic shift in the battle between Intel Corp.'s x86 architecture and the ARM architecture, developed and marketed by UK-based ARM Holdings plc. Intel's x86, which AMD licenses from Intel, has long been the dominant architecture in the PC space, while the power-thrifty ARM architecture rules the mobile world. "In certain ways, ARM and AMD make strange bedfellows," said Leendert van Doom, an AMD corporate Fellow. "But I think we are in this new world with different relationships." Wolfe said the deal should not be interpreted as a statement about the ARM architecture versus x86. "We believe x86 is still going to be the dominant architecture in the data center for years to come," he said. AMD CEO Rory Read hinted in February that AMD could take an ARM license as part of "an ambidextrous" strategy with regard to architectures. In April, ARM CEO Warren East said the firm was working to persuade AMD to license ARM processors. East said AMD had recently signaled it was rethinking its strategy and could be more open to the idea of taking an ARM license. Van Doom said AMD plans to offer its first APUs incorporating the Cortex-A5 core next year. The scheme will first be implemented in G-Series APUs for tablets and ultrathin PCs in 2013, then implemented across the firm's APU product line in 2014, he said. Wolfe and van Doom said the appeal of TrustZone was its ability to monitor and help protect against malicious access to sensitive data and operations at the hardware level. They cited examples, including the Flame virus that recently made headlines, to support the need for robust security. ARM's TrustZone technology is described as a system-wide approach to security that was implemented as a result of ongoing co-development between ARM and a wide range of companies. The technology has been implemented in billions of devices.