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How does x86 translation work on Windows on Arm?
Lots of Windows applications were written for x86, and yet can work on Arm CPUs. Here's how it's possible.
Windows has always been made for x86 CPUs from Intel and AMD, but ever since Windows RT came out a decade ago for smartphones, the operating system has slowly been becoming more friendly to Arm CPUs. Today, both Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer complete support for Arm CPUs, but there's a catch. While the operating system itself runs just fine on these CPUs, most applications haven't launched an Arm-compatible version. Although Windows can run on Arm chips, having few programs to actually use would be a problem.
Arm launches its Neoverse CPU cores aimed at high-performance computing
The company is also pushing its Arm Chiplet System Architecture
Arm has specialized in power-efficient computing since it debuted decades ago, and it continues to expand based on recent technological developments. For example, the company has started exploring how its infrastructure can support 5G and memory-intensive work. Now, it’s preparing to launch new CPU cores as it looks to cater to a wider audience beyond mobile.
If you're a big fan of Windows on Arm, you'll know how annoying it can be when your favorite apps don't natively run on your system. However, developers are slowly coming around to Windows on Arm and are releasing special ARM64 versions of their apps that run natively on compatible hardware. Brave is the latest browser developer to announce that its software now uses ARM64 architecture to its maximum potential, and you can get started with it right now.
The rise of Arm in computing: More than just mobile?
The landscape of Arm-based computing unfolds, promising continued innovation and a transformative future.
The Arm architecture has undergone a transformative journey, extending its influence beyond smartphones and tablets into the realm of personal computing. Originally designed to focus on energy efficiency and low power consumption, Arm's adaptability and scalability have made it an attractive alternative to traditional x86 architecture. As computing demands evolve, the shift towards Arm architecture in a broader computing context becomes increasingly evident.
CPU-Z now runs natively on Windows Arm PCs
CPU-Z launches Its first ARM64 version for Windows, making it easier to find detailed specs of Arm-based PCs.
CPU-Z, a well-known system information tool by CPUID, has recently introduced its ARM64 version for Windows ARM64 PCs. This release represents a significant shift for CPU-Z, aligning with the increasing adoption of ARM-based devices in the computing sector.
Hear me out: Apple should bring back Boot Camp for Arm Macs
It's high time to get Windows running natively on Apple Silicon, and Boot Camp is the best way to do it.
When Apple announced the transition plan from Intel CPUs to custom Arm processors for its Mac lineup at WWDC 2020, it brought to an end to the long-standing rumor mill. Undoubtedly, the move to the in-house solution also gave us what is sure to be the best Mac for a whole lot of people, especially when you consider the performance vs. efficiency factor.
RISC-V: How companies are pushing it into the future
RISC-V has been everywhere recently, and for good reason
RISC-V has been everywhere recently, with the alternative instruction set architecture (ISA) building momentum to challenge the dominance of x86 and ARM. This has included several high-profile announcements from Qualcomm and Google, as well as the recent formation of the RISE (RISC-V Software Ecosystem) Project with support from everyone from Red Hat to Intel. Google even recently announced that native Android support is coming to RISC.
AMD and Nvidia are allegedly making ARM chips for PCs, and what it means for the industry
If AMD and Nvidia really are getting into ARM processors, it could shake things up in a major way.
Rumors are an everyday thing for tech giants like AMD and Nvidia, but Reuters' report that the two companies are jumping into ARM CPUs for Windows PCs is a big deal. It's almost completely new territory for AMD and Nvidia, neither of which have ever made ARM-based chips for PCs. It's also just as big for Microsoft, which is apparently spurring on the CPU and GPU designers into making these processors.
Why Snapdragon X Elite will fix my least favorite parts of Windows
Snapdragon X Elite is Qualcomm's first custom Arm64 processor, and it will fix some of the worst things about Windows laptops.
Although Qualcomm has been making processors made for Windows on Arm for years, its latest Snapdragon X Elite processor finally looks to make good on the company's promises. This chip is Qualcomm's first fully-custom Arm64 chip, which naturally puts it right up against Apple Silicon. While Apple has figured out how to make powerful and efficient computers, Windows has lagged behind. But with the release of Snapdragon X Elite, there are key performance and quality-of-life enhancements coming that will fix some of the worst parts of Windows. Here's what we're expecting from the Snapdragon X Elite chip, and why it matters for every Windows user.
Best native apps for Windows on Arm in 2023
Windows 11 devices running on Arm processors are becoming more common, and if you want to make the most of them, these are the apps to try.
It's been over five years since the first Windows on Arm PCs started showing up, but despite that long period, Arm-based Windows devices haven't caught on all that much, although Microsoft finally started taking it more seriously in 2022. It announced a native developer toolchain for Arm and even launched a new, more powerful Windows Dev Kit with an Arm processor. There are also Windows Arm PCs like the Surface Pro 9 with 5G and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s, and soon, we'll have the brand-new Snapdragon X series of processors to deliver true high-end performance for Windows on Arm.
Microsoft fixes camera problems on Arm-based Windows devices
If you use an Arm-based Windows device and are running into camera issues, keep an eye out on Windows Update.
Microsoft releases Windows updates on a monthly basis bringing new features, improvements, and bug fixes. In fact, updates for supported versions of Windows are expected today as well, as the firm initiates these rollouts on the second Tuesday of each month, known as "Patch Tuesday". However, sometimes, its releases cause unforeseen issues that are usually patched in the subsequent monthly update or through out-of-band updates. Now, Microsoft has announced that it has resolved one such niggling issue affecting Arm-based Windows devices.
What is AArch64? What you need to know about this CPU architecture
Although you've probably used a device with an AArch64 processor inside, you might not know what it means. Here's what you need to know.
There are many CPU architectures out there, with the biggest ones being x86 and ARM. Having said that, AArch64 has probably flown under your radar. Even the fairly well-read tech enthusiast might have never heard of it, despite the fact that it's present in millions of devices. Well, the thing is that AArch64 isn't mysterious so much as it is a very confusing technical term. Here's what you need to know about AArch64.
What Arm's restructured royalty fees could mean for consumers
Arm is reportedly set on restructuring its business model to increase its royalty fees, potentially causing a significant price hike for all phones.
From wireless earbuds to VR headsets and everything in between, tech devices have experienced a noticeable increase in prices since the start of the pandemic. It started with the global chip shortage and then snowballed into increased manufacturing costs at multiple levels. Of course, smartphones are no exception to the rule, especially given the complex process of manufacturing its components, such as the chip inside. Any increase in the cost of production will invariably be passed down to the consumers, and if a recent report is to be believed, it looks like we are about to witness something that may affect smartphone pricing, courtesy of Arm.
What happened to x86 phones?
Why does Arm rule smartphones rather than Intel or AMD? Here's why phones don't use x86 CPUs.
Some of you may wonder why x86 smartphones aren't a thing anymore, but many more probably didn't know they even existed in the first place. Starting in 2012, companies began launching smartphones using Intel's x86 Atom CPUs, a product line that the company touted as one of its most important. The smartphone market was lucrative enough on its own, but there were other use cases Atom would be great for. Intel only had to break Arm's stranglehold on phones and Intel CPUs would be anywhere.
What is Arm: The history of the ISA and what's to come
Companies like Apple and Samsung use Arm to make their processors, but what exactly is Arm? Here's what you need to know.
If you've ever looked at a spec sheet for a mobile phone or laptop, or if you're familiar with how Apple ditched Intel to make its own processors for Mac products, you've probably encountered the word "Arm" at least once. But it's not a term tied to just one brand; Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung, and hundreds more companies make processors using Arm technology. Since Arm processors are present in virtually every smartphone, along with many tablets and laptops, odds are you currently own or once owned at least one Arm-powered device. But what does that mean? Here's what you need to know about its history.
Arm's new Immortalis G720 should yield big gains in performance and efficiency
Arm has announced the Immortalis G720, Mali G720, and Mali G620, and they look super promising.
Alongside the launch of Arm's new Total Compute Solution for 2023 in the form of the Cortex-X4, A720, and A520, we're also getting a look at Arm's GPUs for the next year too. This includes a new Immortalis G720, a Mali G720, and a Mali G620. These are Arm's 5th Generation GPUs, and that's also the new naming convention for Arm GPUs. No more "Valhall" or "Bifrost"; it's just "5th Gen."
Intel partners with Arm to manufacture next-gen Arm chips
As Intel's business strategy continues to evolve, the company turns a longstanding rivalry with Arm into an alliance.
For the past four years, things haven't been going great for Intel. The delays on its 10nm and 7nm nodes (now Intel 7 and Intel 4 respectively) meant technological stagnation for its CPUs, allowing the company's traditional rival AMD to take away market share in desktops, laptops, and servers. Arm, Intel's other main rival, has been making inroads in PCs and servers with chips developed by Amazon, Ampere, and Qualcomm. It's a desperate time for Intel, which lost hundreds of millions of dollars in two quarters last year for some of the worst earnings the company has ever seen.
Arm's Immortalis is the next-generation of its GPUs, but what is it?
Arm Immortalis is the next generation of flagship GPUs from Arm, and it has a few key differences that separate it from Mali.
The mobile GPU space has been heating up for a while now. Apple held the crown of the fastest GPU for a long time but was bested by Qualcomm this generation, and Qualcomm's dominance relative to the rest of the Android world was also incredible. With Arm's Immortalis GPUs, though, things are picking up pace and making the space ever the more competitive.
Arm is suing Qualcomm over the Nuvia acquisition
Arm has announced that it's suing Qualcomm over its purchase of Nuvia, saying it should have been involved in licenses being transferred.
Arm is suing one of its biggest partners, the company announced today. The action is against Qualcomm, and it's related to the firm's acquisition of Nuvia, saying that Qualcomm sought to transfer Nuvia's licenses without its consent.
Arm introduces second-generation Armv9 processors, plus a ray-tracing GPU
Arm has introduced its second-generation Armv9 processors plus new GPUs, including the new Immortalis-G715, which supports ray tracing.
After debuting the brand-new Armv9 architecture last year, Arm has just announced the second generation of Armv9 CPUs, spearheaded by the new Cortex-X3 flagship CPU, alongside the Cortex-A715 and a revised Cortex-A510. Additionally, the company introduced its first-ever flagship GPU, the Immortalis-G715, complete with support for hardware-level ray tracing. These new components also power Arm's new Total Compute Solutions.