The ARM architecture, long known for its dominance in mobile devices, is making a significant leap into new technological areas. Recent data indicates a growing trend in the adoption of ARM in other fields, such as data centers, challenging traditional conceptions about its use.
According to the latest statistics, over 12% of PCs sold today are based on ARM, with Apple’s Macs particularly standing out. But perhaps even more surprising is that over 10% of servers worldwide already use this architecture. Most of these servers are found in hyperscaler farms like Amazon, which accounts for 50%, and various Chinese companies, which together make up 40%.
Many companies are showing great interest in this architecture for their dedicated servers. Some have created exclusive divisions to develop ARM-based chips, such as AWS’s Graviton, which are democratizing infrastructure with this technology for data centers.
However, the exploration and adoption of ARM are not limited to large corporations alone. In an interview with David Carrero Fernández-Baillo, co-founder of Stackscale, revealed that the trend towards ARM is not going unnoticed in other sectors. Carrero mentioned that many infrastructure and private cloud service providers are actively working on integrating and adopting ARM in their respective services and products. These actions highlight the versatility and potential of ARM beyond mobile devices.
The movement towards ARM in the server world seems to be just the beginning of a broader transformation in the technological landscape. As companies like Oracle, IBM, Google, and Microsoft plan to migrate their server farms to ARM in the coming years, and tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Samsung, Nvidia, and Intel show interest in investing in ARM, it is clear that this architecture has a promising future.
At Stackscale, we are also staying abreast of the latest technologies and working to offer ARM-based solutions in the future to complement our infrastructure solutions for private cloud and bare-metal use.
ARM is no longer just a name associated with smartphones and tablets. Its advancement in the world of servers and PCs is clear proof of its ability to adapt and dominate in various niches of the technology market. With each adoption and adaptation, ARM is redefining the rules of the game and showing that it is a force to be reckoned with in the future of technology.
History and evolution of ARM: From mobile devices to data centers
The history of ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) begins in 1983 when Acorn Computers, a British computer company, started developing a processor based on the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) architecture. This processor, known as the Acorn RISC Machine, was designed to be more efficient and powerful than the predominant CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) processors at the time.
In 1990, Acorn Computers, Apple, and VLSI Technology founded a joint venture called Advanced RISC Machines Ltd., later renamed ARM Holdings. The new entity aimed to develop and license the ARM architecture to other manufacturers instead of producing its own chips.
Development and growth
During the 1990s, ARM focused on the mobile and embedded device market. Its low-power, high-performance architecture became an ideal choice for mobile phones, handheld gaming consoles, and other electronic devices.
One of the most significant milestones for ARM was Nokia’s adoption of its processors in their mobile phones, which catapulted ARM to a dominant position in the mobile phone market. Over the years, ARM continued innovating and improving its architecture, releasing successive generations of more powerful and efficient processors.
The smartphone era
The arrival of the iPhone in 2007 marked a turning point for ARM. Apple chose to use ARM-based processors for its iOS devices, further solidifying ARM’s position in the smartphone market. This success extended to other smartphone and tablet manufacturers, making ARM the dominant architecture in the mobile device market.
Expansion into new markets
In the past decade, ARM has begun expanding beyond mobile devices. The ARM architecture has found applications in various markets, including consumer electronics, automobiles, and more recently, in servers and data centers.
One of the most notable developments in this regard has been the adoption of ARM in Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers with their Graviton chips, developed by Amazon’s Annapurna Labs division. These chips have demonstrated competitive performance and energy efficiency, leading to increasing adoption in the cloud computing realm.
ARM in the future
The future of ARM looks promising. NVIDIA attempted to acquire ARM Holdings in 2020, but the regulatory bodies ultimately blocked the deal. Finally, in August 2023, ARM Holdings went public on the American Nasdaq.
From its humble beginnings in the United Kingdom to becoming a dominant force in mobile technology and beyond, ARM’s evolution has been a journey of constant innovation and adaptation to change. With its continued expansion into new markets and applications, ARM is well-positioned to continue influencing the future of technology on multiple fronts.
