Will Arm start to build its own chips soon? Strategic Cortex-X collaboration with Samsung may well be first step in that direction

An ARM-Branded Processor
ARM sold (Image credit: ARM)

We’ve heard for quite a few years now that Arm might be planning to build its own chips, and it looks as if things might be moving a step closer to that happening.

Samsung has announced a new strategic collaboration with Arm to deliver the next generation Arm Cortex-X CPU, optimized on Samsung Foundry’s latest Gate-All-Around (GAA) process technology. 

This partnership is expected to pave the way for a series of innovations between the two tech giants, with ambitious plans to reinvent 2-nanometer (nm) GAA for next-generation data center and infrastructure custom silicon. 

Pushing boundaries

The collaboration also aims to develop a groundbreaking AI chiplet solution, set to potentially revolutionize the future generative AI mobile computing market. The mutual goal is to redefine the possibilities in mobile computing and meet the relentless performance and efficiency demands of the AI era - and also represents a significant step in the direction of Arm potentially starting to build its own chips. 

The partnership for now is focusing on the optimization of Arm's Cortex-A and Cortex-X general-purpose CPU cores for Samsung's next-generation 2nm-class process technology. The collaboration is expected to result in a wide range of applications, including next-generation data center and infrastructure custom silicon, smartphones, and various chiplet-based solutions. 

As Tom's Hardware points out, this underscores the importance of design collaboration between IP developers and foundries in maximizing performance and minimizing power consumption of circuits. 

As a result of the joint work, customers of the two companies will be able to license Samsung 2nm-optimized versions of Cortex-A or Cortex-X cores, simplifying the development process and speeding up time-to-market. However, Arm and Samsung have yet to reveal when the first results of their collaboration will be available for their customers.

 “Our longstanding collaboration with Samsung has delivered multi-generation, leading-edge innovation,” said Chris Bergey, SVP and GM, Client Business at Arm Inc. “Optimizing Cortex-X and Cortex-A processors on the latest Samsung process node underscores our shared vision to redefine what’s possible in mobile computing, and we look forward to continuing to push boundaries to meet the relentless performance and efficiency demands of the AI era.”

More from TechRadar Pro

TOPICS
Wayne Williams
Editor

Wayne Williams is a freelancer writing news for TechRadar Pro. He has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for 30 years. In that time he wrote for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a number of them too.

Read more
Concept image of Arm chip
The only way is stack! Arm wants to build its own CPU server for hyperscalers, reports say, and AMD won't be happy
Arm
Arm may be planning to hike prices, has considered developing its own chips
Arm
Why would Arm's owner want to buy a rival to AMD and Intel? I can think of one reason
The AmpereOne CPU
Arm's Japanese owner is rumored to be buying Arm's only independent server chip vendor but I don't understand the rationale behind it
A hand reaching out to touch a futuristic rendering of an AI processor.
Researchers want to embrace Arm's celebrated paradigm for a universal generative AI processor; a puzzling MEGA.mini core architecture
Sam Altman and OpenAI
Nvidia, look away! OpenAI is almost ready to deliver first prototype of its AI GPU - General Processing Unit
Latest in Pro
Nvidia Isaac GROOT N1
“The age of generalist robotics is here" - Nvidia's latest GROOT AI model just took us another step closer to fully humanoid robots
Nvidia Earth-2 weather models
Nvidia has updated its virtual recreation of the entire planet - and it could mean better weather forecasts for everyone
Nvidia DGX Station
Nvidia’s DGX Station brings 800Gbps LAN, the most powerful chip ever launched in a desktop workstation PC
Artificial intelligence India
Zoom launches AI Companion 2.0 with a major agent focus
Google Cloud logo
Google to acquire cloud security platform Wiz in $32 billion deal
GIMP 3.0 interface from the website
Our favorite free photo editor finally got the update it deserves - and these are the top 5 features designers should know about
Latest in News
Perplexity Squid Game Ad
New ad declares Squid Game's real winner is Perplexity AI
Frank Grimes confronts Homer Simpson in The Simpsons' Homer's Enemy episode
Disney+ adds a new continuous Simpsons stream, so you no longer have to spend ages choosing an episode
Helly and Mark standing on an artificial hill surrounded by goats in Severance season 2 episode 3
New Apple teaser for Severance season 2 finale suggests we might finally find out what Lumon is doing with those goats, and I don't think it's anything good
Foldable iPhone
Apple’s first foldable iPhone could beat the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 in one key way
Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals' next update will add two new hero skins for Iron Man and Spider-Man mains this week
Nvidia Isaac GROOT N1
“The age of generalist robotics is here" - Nvidia's latest GROOT AI model just took us another step closer to fully humanoid robots