ARM taps Global Foundries to produce 20nm mobile chips
updated 12:09 pm EDT, Mon August 13, 2012
ARM and Global Foundries make multi-year agreement to produce efficient 20nm chips
Global Foundries, a contract chipmaker, has signed a multi-year agreement with mobile chipmaker ARM to produce its next-generation mobile system-on-chip (SoC) processors. The factories are equipped to build 20nm and FinFET process technologies. The deal also calls on ARM developing its Artisan Physical IP platform, including cell libraries, memory compilers and POP IP solutions.
The chips will be used in next-generations smartphones, tablets, and ultra-thin notebooks.
ARM and Global Foundries have been working on developing ARM Cortex A-series processors for several years now at the latter company's Malta, New York fabrication facility. The partnership is expected to result in more energy-efficient ARM Cortex CPUs and ARM Mali GPUs for mobile devices.
Global Foundries' 20nm LPM technology is said to offer a 40 percent performance improvement and twice the gate density of 28nm chips.
Last fall, ARM teamed up with TSMC to produce its first 20nm chips in the form of the Cortex A15.
