Samsung Reportedly Prepares ARM Server CPUs

ARM may have convinced Samsung to be among the first wave of ARM server processor makers. 

According to a report published by the Seoul Economic Daily, Samsung may be designing a multi-core SoC targeted at the microserver market for a 2014 release date for the first prototype systems that integrate the new chips.

As previously stated by ARM, these server chips will be based on an ARMv8 design and incorporate 64-bit capability, as well as ARM's Artisan physical IP along with enhanced virtualization and ECC memory support. The company recently announced that it is working with TSMC to optimize its 64-bit processors for FinFET manufacturing with first samples expected to arrive late this year.

According to ARM, a compiler that is compatible with the ARMv8 architecture has been shipping since October of last year.

Samsung declined to comment, but it is reasonable to assume that the company will be among the first companies to offer a Cortex-A15 server chip in concert with other developers that include Calxeda and Marvell.

Wolfgang Gruener is a contributor to Tom's IT Pro. He is currently principal analyst at Ndicio Research, a market analysis firm that focuses on cloud computing and disruptive technologies, and maintains the conceivablytech.com blog. An 18-year veteran in IT journalism and market research, he previously published TG Daily and was managing editor of Tom's Hardware news, which he grew from a link collection in the early 2000s into one of the most comprehensive and trusted technology news sources.

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