Apple may well have accelerated the development of current computing by several years in 2020 by presenting Apple Silicon and its M1 chips based on ARM architecture, abandoning Intel’s x86. Without a doubt, other tech giants should follow suit and accelerate the passage on this platform, Microsoft leading the way.
MICROSOFT ON ARM CHIP DEVELOPMENT
According to information from Bloomberg, citing “ sources close to the matter ”, Microsoft is working on a homemade ARM processor to reduce its dependence on Intel. When contacted, the Redmond firm did not deny the information, explaining that “ silicon is a fundamental element of technology ” and that Microsoft “ continues to invest in its [its] own capacities in areas such as design, manufacturing, and tools ”.
Microsoft would initially focus on ARM chips to run its Azure servers. It must be said that it is today the main growth vector for Microsoft which recorded in the last quarter and an increase in its revenues of 48% on its cloud services, with a very high demand since the beginning of the crisis.
However, Microsoft is also working on a chip dedicated to its Surface PC ranges. Remember that today, these run mainly with Intel chips, with the exception of the Surface Pro X embedding an ARM SQ1 processor, designed by Microsoft in partnership with Qualcomm (and manufactured by the latter). The latter is however far from impressing, in particular, because of the lack of optimizations of Windows and its applications for such an architecture.
Recently, rumors suggested that Microsoft could focus on Windows 10 ARM in 2021, in particular, to counter Google Chromebooks. With Apple’s switch to the ARM architecture, everything could then accelerate.
BLOW FOR INTEL
After years of hegemony over the sector, it would be a blow to Intel, which is currently suffering the flight of its main customers and the fall of its reign. In the wake of this Bloomberg announcement, Intel stock prices have fallen more than 6%, for a total decline of 30% since the start of the year.
(via)
