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AMD and Nvidia to launch Arm chips for Windows from 2025

24.10.2023

Translation: machine translated

According to a report, Nvidia plans to develop Arm SoCs for Windows from 2025 in addition to graphics cards, AI accelerators and the like. AMD is also planning Arm processors in addition to its existing processors for the x86 instruction set architecture. This is likely to put pressure on Intel in particular.

Microsoft has been trying to make its Windows operating system fit for the Arm architecture since 2016. This in collaboration with Qualcomm. The semiconductor manufacturer has exclusive rights to this until the end of 2024 and, as reported by the Reuters news agency, AMD and Nvidia also want a piece of the pie once these rights expire: they are planning Arm SoCs for Windows.

This is likely to be a strategic move.

This is likely to be a strategic move. In terms of performance and efficiency, Windows laptops have been left behind by Apple and their Arm-based M-SoCs. Since their release three years ago, Apple has almost doubled its market share. It currently stands at 8.6 per cent. In order to secure long-term market share for its Windows operating system, Microsoft must also catch up in terms of architecture. This is easiest if several semiconductor manufacturers join in and not just Qualcomm. Microsoft no longer wants to be dependent on a single manufacturer, writes Reuters.

Intel in particular is likely to come under pressure from the development of Arm-based SoCs for Windows by Nvidia and AMD. The manufacturer, which continues to rely on the x86 architecture, was a long-standing partner of Apple. When the latter switched to Arm-based chips, it lost a major customer. However, sales of Windows devices are even higher. Should the Arm-based chips also become established on these devices, Intel would face a major problem.

However, there is no guarantee that the switch from Windows to Arm will work on a large scale. Software for Windows on Arm must first be developed specifically for this architecture in order to run smoothly. In addition to Office, there is now well-known software that has been implemented for the Arm architecture. Adobe Photoshop, for example. However, the offering still lags far behind that of Apple. Software developers would therefore have to follow suit. Apple has succeeded in taking the step from x86 to Arm because it is a relatively closed ecosystem.

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Kevin Hofer

Senior Editor

kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.ch

From big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.

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