Paul, re: Intel StrongArm
Great News that Intel is running with this important gain.
You might remember I was the first on this thread to highlight this as a strategically important acquisition from the DEC settlement. Refer to last October:
Message 2568248
Great to see that Ron Smith knows likewise. This is certainly the right manager to exploit this chip. StrongArm is the very best architecture for handhelds, settop boxes, and as upgrades for i960 embedded applications. I look for StrongArm to become a major volume producer for Intel.
"We believe the StrongARM processors have tremendous potential in the market. High-performance, low-power microprocessors are essential to the future of a variety of portable devices and other consumer electronics and embedded applications," said Ron Smith vice president and general manager of Intel's Computer Enhancement Group. "Once we obtain regulatory approval, our plan is to continue to enhance and improve the product. We also plan to grow the customer base as well as provide support for existing customers."
Why? ARM is a lean "load and store" machine without any of the addressing mode and memory manager complexity characteristic of the x86 architecture. As a result StrongArm can exploit aggressive clock gating to toggle only those nodes that are transferring or processing data. The result:
'These microprocessors offer clock speeds of up to 200 MHz while consuming less than 250 milliwatts of power, making them ideal for such applications as smart hand-held devices and Internet appliances."
200MHz for a quarter watt! This is outstanding and leads its competition in the handheld market.
Two other winning attributes -
1. It has Windows CE, the necessary OS to win in handheld and consumer box applications.
2. Its tiny! Intel can crank it out at a cost of a few dollars each. A perfect "fab filler" for .35 micron capacity. Well, given the time horizons, it is likely that StrongArm can be a fab filler for .25 micron fabs as Intel ramps processors on .18 micron processes.
Why bother? Here are the strategic reasons:
1. It is a good business! Intel is likely to be able to sell StrongArms for $10 each at 60%+ margins, and StrongArm comes to Intel with a sizable customer base.
2. Provides an upgrade path for i960 and 8051, embedded x86 customers. Right now Intel is losing share as it does not have a cost effective solution for 32 bit embedded. StrongArm can fix this.
3. Low end flank defense. Arm is fully competitive at the low end.
4. Accelerate the connected PC - Communicating gadgets collectively increase the value of the connected PC network. The more "nodes" in existence, the more demand for the integrated PC network - all of its components from home PC's to networks to servers.
Jeff |
