ARM shows its first 32nm mobile chip
updated 03:40 pm EST, Mon February 16, 2009
ARM Cortex 32nm Chip
Joining in the slew of mobile introductions, ARM today demonstrated its first 32 nanometer (nm) mobile processor. Part of the Cortex series, the chip is much smaller than many existing designs and allows smaller smartphones while simultaneously increasing the speed by shortening the distance between components. The new design additionally hinges on high-K metal gate process that reduces energy leaks and prevents the chip from wasting much of its power. ARM also expects the chip to be less costly to build.
Although developers will have access to the 32nm Cortex design this year, ARM doesn't anticipate full-scale production until early 2010 and hasn't named potential customers. However, the firm regularly licenses its chip designs to numerous processor makers, including current iPhone CPU supplier Samsung, Freescale, Texas Instruments and Toshiba.
Future plans should involve migrating to an even smaller 28nm process as well as adapting either of the size reductions to other ARM architecture designs, such as the ARM11 architecture used across Apple devices and many existing smartphones.
