Microsoft Licenses ARM CPU Technology
Microsoft may create its own ARM-based chip.
Microsoft may follow in Apple's footsteps by designing its own ARM-based chips. The company said Friday in an official announcement that it has signed a new agreement to license ARM's technology. Now there's speculation that a Windows Phone tablet could be on the way, or that the Redmond company may incorporate ARM into the next Xbox.
Microsoft did not provide additional details on the agreement, merely stating that it delivers "multiple operating systems on the company's architecture, most notably Windows Embedded and Windows Phone." The company added that direct access to the technology provides the ability to enhance its research and development around ARM-based products.
“Microsoft is an important member of the ARM ecosystem, and has been for many years,” said Mike Muller, CTO ARM. “With this architecture license, Microsoft will be at the forefront of applying and working with ARM technology in concert with a broad range of businesses addressing multiple application areas.”
Although around 200 licensees manufacture ARM chips without licensing the architecture itself, Microsoft now joins a short list of companies who actually dig into the micro-architecture including Infineon, Marvell and Qualcomm.
So why would Microsoft need ARM for the Xbox? This technology may actually be applied to the next generation console. As it stands now, the Xbox 360 relies on a central processor to do most of the work. This approach generates a concentration of heat that takes its toll on the heatsink--it expands and contracts until it eventually shorts out the system by touching one of the chip's contacts. The next console will need to address this issue, as a faster CPU will only make matters worse.
And what of the Windows Phone tablet? That's speculation too. Microsoft wants to port the entire Windows operating system to the ARM platform. Microsoft is also said to be discouraging tablet manufacturers from making Windows Phone-based devices, pushing them to use Windows 7 instead.
We're betting more will be revealed in the coming months.
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ARM chip in an Xbox?....hmm................................
"it expands and contracts until it eventually shorts out the system by touching one of the chip's contacts"
That's complete garbage. The heatsink sits above any sort of contact point nor could it ever expand that much. M$ just cheaped out.
Uhh... the Xbox 360 RROD issue is caused by the tiny solder balls between the chip and the logic board breaking due to thermal expansion and the poorly designed heatsink mount, not from the heatsink shorting something. If that were the case it would likely happen the very first time the xbox were allowed to get up to operating temperature.
Im typing this on a 10 year old Dell whose cheap little intel heatsink has not shorted out. If Dell can do it, how hard can it be.
IMO contract with Zalman; they would make an awesome heatsink for it.
I want to see a decent ARM based IPMI module in servers. the processors they use these days kinda suck.
sm the diffrernce is that pcs have a lot larger air flow and as a result of this usually have the temperature inside the case nearly half the temperature inside the 360
My 6 year old laptop never overheats....and its rather tinier than an XBox.....
Mobiles yes, consoles no. None of ARM's current designs are anywhere near as powerful as the processor in the 360, and that was launched years ago. I find it very unlikely that their next console will be less powerful than the 360.
Xbox Portable
could be for a PSP or DS competitor.
ARM license = Xbox handheld.
Not saying it's gonna happen, but inside the walls of this ridiculous rumor-mill-slash-thinktank I am full of ideas.
Maybe they could hop into the netbook business, although I am not sure ARM processors are fast enough, though they really power frugal.
Oops, forgot to insert are in "they are frugal"!
Power-frugal and fast, it seems to me that Moorestown should make ARM essentially irrelevant, unless there are huge cost differences.
"it expands and contracts"
That's what she said.
Are ARM processors faster than the CPUs in XBox 360s? I don't think so. MS probably wants to get into the portable gaming arena in which case licensing ARM processors would make sense.
Yeah pcs have larger airflow, but because the xbox 360 lacks that does not mean MS cant hire good engineers to build them a console with good airflow. It might have a larger size to it, but it would do the job better.
Just look at those Shuttle PCs, many of them are rather small, yet do a good job keeping their components cool and stable for years.
ARM based Xbox? Somehow I don't think that will turn out very well.
“Microsoft is an important member of the ARM ecosystem, and has been for many years”
Are they counting something other than Windows Mobile? That alone is hardly significant.
Mobiles yes, consoles no. None of ARM's current designs are anywhere near as powerful as the processor in the 360, and that was launched years ago. I find it very unlikely that their next console will be less powerful than the 360.
Licensing the architecture doesn't mean they're going to make an identical processor to what is available at this time. Just like licensing the x86 architecture doesn't mean you're going to make an 8086. They'll make a better chip for sure, taking advantage of the ARM's lower power requirements. At least, that would be my guess.
"As it stands now, the Xbox 360 relies on a central processor to do most of the work. This approach generates a concentration of heat that takes its toll on the heatsink--it expands and contracts until it eventually shorts out the system by touching one of the chip's contacts. The next console will need to address this issue, as a faster CPU will only make matters worse."
WHAT!!!!
SERIOUSLY!!!!
Do some research man !!!! Heatsink touching chips contacts WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT!!!
Yah Kevin, that's pretty bad. What's your source on the heatsink shorting to the chip? That's complete bologna.
More complaining about the XBOX... I have had mine for a while with one only of my XBOXs breaking down.
That does not mean I hate my XBOX. I have learned to keep it in the open so it has proper ventilation.
Hmmm... If they make it as follows I will take it...
Tablet smaller than iPad
Phone built right in
BlueTooth support and ability to charge a headset of USB
Windows 7 Tablet or Phone
32GB SSD
USB Ports that support EVERYTHING (keys, HDD, DVD, etc)
HDMI port
FM Radio
IR Port on Front
Wifi N/G
Wimax and/or 3G/4G capable internet carrier independant
Outlook/Word/Excel/Powerpoint
Automatic tools for Windows Home Server, Media Center Extenders, RDP, etc
With the right design team (aka no one involved with the Kin, or Courier), MS could kick the tar out of Apple... It would be expensive to make but people would buy it if the OS and hardware rocked.
It's a dream at least....
When they said that this may be in the next Xbox, I think they meant it as a supplement to the processor to reduce its workload.
Not that interesting really. Microsoft already uses PowerPC chips in the XBox, the same chips which powered Apple for so long. I'm thinking this might be for a Zune Phone.
When they said that this may be in the next Xbox, I think they meant it as a supplement to the processor to reduce its workload.
With the way CPUs are going, I doubt it. The 360 already has three full PowerPC-based cores. Who knows how many we'll end up with in the next Xbox.
They are likely going to be designing a chip for use in either mobile or embedded systems. If it's a mobile Xbox, I'm hoping they'll use a SGX543MP16.
ARM chip in an Xbox?....hmm................................
yes but can it play crysis 2? *thumbs down*
Everyone seems to be missing a key point... They licensed the arch its self.. meaning, they can do whatever they want with it, including improve upon it with a whole different style chip based on the ARM arch. This could give Microsoft an advantage even over Apple, who must use the arch unmodified, and with the kind of money microsoft can put into r&d, i'd not be surprised to see some pretty sweet Windows Mobile hardware, albeit I would rather see Android on that same hardware, but thats beside the point.
Windows on a cheap, portable arm-based device?
yes please!
Might be able to make specific OS compliaent chip for mainboards, or smartphones. Something maybe.