Microsoft’s new product, Windows 8, impressed the technology world when it announced that Windows 8 would include support for Advanced RISC Microprocessor (ARM) CPUs. To understand why Microsoft did this, we need to understand the comparative advantages of RISC vs CISC processors.
What do RISC and CISC mean?
CISC which stands for Complex Instruction Set Computing is a CPU architecture strategy where a number of more powerful functions are embedded into the microcode of the hardware. The idea is that there would be less work required in coding, less memory referencing and a few other advantages. RISC, or Reduced Instruction Set Computing is an architecture style that is characterised by only very simple instructions being available from the CPU. Over time, CISC style processors dominated the PC market, until even Apple abandoned the RISC platform for their hardware in favour of the Intel 8086 style processors.
RISC architecture eventually spawned ARM (Advanced RISC Microprocessor) which proved to be a massive success. ARM is used in around 90% of tablets, phones, mp3 players, portable video players and other mobile devices.
So why do we want to move back to RISC and ARM?
It was actually really important for Microsoft’s future survival as post-PC portable devices started to overtake the PC market. ARM is a far superior architecture for a portable device. The main reason for this: Power Consumption.
RISC style processors use less power to do the same amount of computing, they generate less heat, and consequently will use less battery.
As battery life has been a long problem for producers and consumers of mobile computing technology, any edge is important to make the time between charges longer. The blame for a lot of power consumption in computing can be squarely laid on the CPU, and in particular, Intel’s CISC based CPU designs.
The other advantage of ARM CPUs is that they can be manufactured at a lower cost, and rolled out to market much faster than CISC type CPUs. This is another huge advantage in the Post PC small mobile computing market.
Are we likely to see ARM in the Desktop Market
The answer at the moment is probably not, but there is a chance we could see ARM type devices being put forwards in the Notebook Computer market, to allow them to compete with the growing threat posed by tablet PCs and smartphones.
What is Intel Doing about this?
Intel are presently stepping up development in their new line of ultra-low-voltage processors. Clover Trail, which is a 32nm chip design, will be released in the second half of 2012, to correspond with the Windows 8 release. This will simply be a continuation of its ATOM line of processors.
Conclusion
The shift of the PC market towards “Post PC” devices such as phones and tablets has now become very evident with the ARM support offered by Windows 8. It’s exciting times ahead for all PC users as we await one of the largest changes to the Windows architecture in over a decade.
This look at technology is provided by McKinley Plowman, the best accountants Perth has to offer.
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