ARM与英特尔战线延伸到网络通信处理器市场

处理器核心供货商ARM与英特尔(Intel)之间的竞争又开了一条新战线，两家公司近来都在网络通信通应用市场有所斩获；在该领域，ARM算是新进入者，英特尔业绩虽然有成长、但也还达不到主导者的地位。以上是市场研究机构 Linley Group 首席分析师Linley Gwennap在该机构一场研讨会上发表的开幕演说结论。 “我们仍看到飞思卡尔半导体(Freescale) 在这个领域表现亮眼，不过该公司的市场版图稍有流失；此外英特尔几年前虽在网通市场卡位不顺利，但现在已经起飞且后势看好。”Gwennap在接受 EETimes美国版编辑访问时表示，英特尔在不断增加的多样化通讯系统控制器领域斩获不少，特别是锁定移动装置运用的、功耗仅60W至30W以下的处理器。 现在英特尔则是主打所谓的资料平面(data plane)方案，企图取代负责封包处理的特制处理器；此外该公司最近推出Crystal Forest系列芯片组，想藉由推广以此整合式通信芯片搭配标准Xeon服务器处理器的方案，在有线系统的应用领域与专用网络处理器竞争。“利用类似的解决方案，他们也能推出不同的搭配芯片，以支持无线基地台等其它应用。”Gwennap指出。 其它竞争厂商如Cavium、 EZChip、Freescale与LSI的反击策略，则是在专用网络处理器中加入更多的通用处理器核心；Gwennap表示，因此：”系统设计业者在封包处理方面有越来越多的技术选择。“在此同时，许多英特尔的对手也选择采用ARM处理器核心，搭配现有的Power处理器核心或是MIPS核心处理器和新芯片。 “ARM的生态系统非常强大，问题是在通讯应用领域表现弱势；”Gwennap指出：“我们明年或后年将会看到64位的ARM处理器推出，可望开启一些新应用契机。” 实际上，包括Applied Micro、Cavium、Freescale与LSI等在过去仅采用Power或MIPS处理器核心的厂商，也已经推出采用ARM核心的新芯片。目前市 面上大约有五成的通讯处理器是采用Power处理器核心，ARM远远落后，x86与MIPS核心的市占率则是不相上下。未来此市场版图将会有所改变。

网通处理器核心供货商市占率
Source：Linley GroupuFTesmc

本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 本文下一页：Power架构会被ARM处理器抢走市场

相关阅读：
• LSI明年推32核A15通信处理器，ARM挺进4G网络
• 嵌入式争夺战日趋激烈，X86阵营三分天下
• 英特尔IDF是X86对ARM宣战的誓师会uFTesmc

{pagination} “Power 架构在未来几年将会被ARM处理器抢走不少市场；”Gwennap表示：“那些芯片厂商都表示他们可同时支持两种架构，但这会带来较高的成本，值得观察他们能撑多久。”他补充指出：“IBM多年来积极推广Power处理器在嵌入式系统的应用，但一直无法建立像是ARM的广泛授权模式，现在该公司恐怕要自食其果。”

网通处理器芯片供货商市占率
Source：Linley GroupuFTesmc

本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 编译：Judith Cheng 参考英文原文：ARM, Intel battle heats up on networking front，by Rick Merritt

相关阅读：
• LSI明年推32核A15通信处理器，ARM挺进4G网络
• 嵌入式争夺战日趋激烈，X86阵营三分天下
• 英特尔IDF是X86对ARM宣战的誓师会uFTesmc

{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)