處理器核心供貨商ARM與英特爾(Intel)之間的競爭又開了一條新戰(zhàn)線，兩家公司近來都在網(wǎng)絡(luò)通信通應(yīng)用市場有所斬獲；在該領(lǐng)域，ARM算是新進(jìn)入者，英特爾業(yè)績雖然有成長、但也還達(dá)不到主導(dǎo)者的地位。以上是市場研究機(jī)構(gòu) Linley Group 首席分析師Linley Gwennap在該機(jī)構(gòu)一場研討會上發(fā)表的開幕演說結(jié)論。 “我們?nèi)钥吹斤w思卡爾半導(dǎo)體(Freescale) 在這個領(lǐng)域表現(xiàn)亮眼，不過該公司的市場版圖稍有流失；此外英特爾幾年前雖在網(wǎng)通市場卡位不順利，但現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)起飛且后勢看好?！盙wennap在接受 EETimes美國版編輯訪問時表示，英特爾在不斷增加的多樣化通訊系統(tǒng)控制器領(lǐng)域斬獲不少，特別是鎖定移動裝置運(yùn)用的、功耗僅60W至30W以下的處理器。 現(xiàn)在英特爾則是主打所謂的資料平面(data plane)方案，企圖取代負(fù)責(zé)封包處理的特制處理器；此外該公司最近推出Crystal Forest系列芯片組，想藉由推廣以此整合式通信芯片搭配標(biāo)準(zhǔn)Xeon服務(wù)器處理器的方案，在有線系統(tǒng)的應(yīng)用領(lǐng)域與專用網(wǎng)絡(luò)處理器競爭。“利用類似的解決方案，他們也能推出不同的搭配芯片，以支持無線基地臺等其它應(yīng)用?！盙wennap指出。 其它競爭廠商如Cavium、 EZChip、Freescale與LSI的反擊策略，則是在專用網(wǎng)絡(luò)處理器中加入更多的通用處理器核心；Gwennap表示，因此：”系統(tǒng)設(shè)計(jì)業(yè)者在封包處理方面有越來越多的技術(shù)選擇。“在此同時，許多英特爾的對手也選擇采用ARM處理器核心，搭配現(xiàn)有的Power處理器核心或是MIPS核心處理器和新芯片。 “ARM的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)非常強(qiáng)大，問題是在通訊應(yīng)用領(lǐng)域表現(xiàn)弱勢；”Gwennap指出：“我們明年或后年將會看到64位的ARM處理器推出，可望開啟一些新應(yīng)用契機(jī)?！? 實(shí)際上，包括Applied Micro、Cavium、Freescale與LSI等在過去僅采用Power或MIPS處理器核心的廠商，也已經(jīng)推出采用ARM核心的新芯片。目前市 面上大約有五成的通訊處理器是采用Power處理器核心，ARM遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)落后，x86與MIPS核心的市占率則是不相上下。未來此市場版圖將會有所改變。

網(wǎng)通處理器核心供貨商市占率
Source：Linley GroupUY2esmc

本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 本文下一頁：Power架構(gòu)會被ARM處理器搶走市場

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• LSI明年推32核A15通信處理器，ARM挺進(jìn)4G網(wǎng)絡(luò)
• 嵌入式爭奪戰(zhàn)日趨激烈，X86陣營三分天下
• 英特爾IDF是X86對ARM宣戰(zhàn)的誓師會UY2esmc

{pagination} “Power 架構(gòu)在未來幾年將會被ARM處理器搶走不少市場；”Gwennap表示：“那些芯片廠商都表示他們可同時支持兩種架構(gòu)，但這會帶來較高的成本，值得觀察他們能撐多久?！彼a(bǔ)充指出：“IBM多年來積極推廣Power處理器在嵌入式系統(tǒng)的應(yīng)用，但一直無法建立像是ARM的廣泛授權(quán)模式，現(xiàn)在該公司恐怕要自食其果?！?

網(wǎng)通處理器芯片供貨商市占率
Source：Linley GroupUY2esmc

本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 編譯：Judith Cheng 參考英文原文：ARM, Intel battle heats up on networking front，by Rick Merritt

相關(guān)閱讀：
• LSI明年推32核A15通信處理器，ARM挺進(jìn)4G網(wǎng)絡(luò)
• 嵌入式爭奪戰(zhàn)日趨激烈，X86陣營三分天下
• 英特爾IDF是X86對ARM宣戰(zhàn)的誓師會UY2esmc

{pagination} ARM, Intel battle heats up on networking front Rick Merritt Both ARM and Intel are poised to grow market share in networking and communications systems at the expense of Freescale and Power-based chips. SAN JOSE, Calif. – Another front is opening up in the architecture wars between ARM and Intel. Both see rising share in networking and communications systems where ARM is a relative newcomer and Intel is growing but not yet dominant. That’s the conclusion of a keynote address from analyst Linley Gwennap principal of market watchers The Linley Group (Mountain View, Calif.) in his opening keynote at the Linley Tech Process Conference here. “We still see Freescale doing very well, but they are losing a little bit of share and Intel is really flying up their tail pipes gaining momentum in networking and comms where a few years ago they weren’t very well positioned,” said Gwennap in an interview with EE Times. Intel has gained sockets as a controller for a growing variety of comms systems, especially as its focus on mobile systems has driven its average CPUs down in power consumption from 60W to less than 30W, Gwennap said. Now the PC giant is making an assault on the so-called data plane, going up against specialized processors that handle packet processing. With its Crystal Forest chip set, Intel recently started a new trend of pairing a standard Xeon server CPU with an integrated comms chip to compete with dedicated network processors in wired systems. “Using the same approach, they can create different companion chips for wireless base stations or other apps,” said Gwennap. Competitors such as Cavium, EZChip, Freescale and LSI are counterattacking by putting more general purpose cores into their dedicated network processors. As a result, “systems designers are getting more options for addressing packet processing,” said Gwennap. Meanwhile, many of Intel’s competitors are adopting ARM as a compliment to existing Power- or MIPS-based chips. “ARM has a very powerful ecosystem, but its big problem in this space has been that its processors have been too wimpy,” said Gwennap. “We see the introduction of 64-bit ARM processors in the next year or two will open up some new doors for them,” he said. Indeed, Applied Micro, Cavium, Freescale and LSI who have in the past supported only Power or MIPS cores are rolling out new lines based on ARM. Today almost half of shipping comms processors use Power cores. ARM trails Power, x86 and MIPS with a small sliver of the comms market, but that’s set to change. Competitive landscape “The Power architecture is going to be losing a lot of share to ARM in the next several years,” said Gwennap. “These companies all say they can support two architectures, but that gets expensive, so it will be interesting to see how long they can afford it,” he said. “IBM tried for years to promote Power [in embedded systems] but they were never able to build a broad licensing program the way ARM has, and that’s finally coming home to roost,” Gwennap added. Click on image to enlarge. In cores, IBM's Power dominates in networking and comms, but Intel and ARM are on the rise. (Source: Linley Group) Click on image to enlarge. In chips, Freescale dominates in networking and comms, but will lose some share to Intel. (Source: Linley Group)