Microsoft is developing its own ARM processor. What will this give the Redmond Corporation?

The popularity of the ARM architecture is growing, more and more companies are paying attention to this technology. So, recently it became known that Microsoft is developing own processor. The company plans to use these chips in the production of the Surface line, and possibly in other devices. Now the corporation uses chips from Intel, but if everything goes as Microsoft plans, the situation may change. Details are under the cut.

What kind of project is Microsoft implementing?

The first thing that became known about him was the invitation of new employees to the team that is working on the processor. From the description of the vacancies posted by Microsoft, it can be understood that the processor will be based on the ARM architecture. This is not surprising, given the growing popularity of the technology – a lot of manufacturers of modern and not so processors work with ARM. From Apple to ARM itself, developed its processor – just to draw attention to the technology, as well as to itself, in anticipation of the IPO.

As for the vacancies themselves, the corporation needed a development engineer for CPUs and systems on a chip, a leading architect of single-chip systems. He should have experience with high performance SOC architecture as well as CPU and GPU architecture and design. This specialist’s primary role will be to “create sophisticated, state-of-the-art SOCs using advanced silicon technology elements, and he will work closely with both internal customers and partners.”

In addition, the company also posted vacancies for a senior physical design verification engineer, a chief design engineer and several other specialists.

It is also known that Windows 12 will be optimized in such a way as to work most efficiently with the ARM architecture.

Surface line and collaboration with Qualcomm

As far as you can understand, the whole project is focused on the development of a chip for Surface, new models of devices from Microsoft. The company already has experience in creating custom chips. For example, the Surface Pro X 2-in-1 was released about three years ago, with a Microsoft SQ1 processor. The first model of the chip caused some complaints from users and experts, but the new SQ3 chip, which became the basis for Microsoft Surface Pro 9, proved to be much better.

These chips were developed together with Qualcomm, which took on most of the tasks of creating a processor. The basis of the SQ series is the Snapdragon 8CX.

As for the new chips, Microsoft’s Silicon division will develop them. When they will appear, it is difficult to say. But if they are really intended for Windows 12, then we can make an assumption that they will be released by the end of this year, or at the beginning of the next, 2024. The fact is that the release of Windows 12 itself is scheduled for the end of 2024. And, by the way, around the same time, Intel plans to release the 14th generation of its Core processors, codenamed Meteor Lake-S.

And what is known about Windows 12 itself?

The development of this OS was supposed to start in March 2023. As part of the Windows Core 12 project, the OS version should become more modular and customizable in order to work properly on devices of various form factors. And this is where optimization for ARM comes in handy.

Based on what Microsoft has already shown, Windows 12 will receive the following interface changes:

• Floating taskbar
• Floating search box at the top center of the screen.
• System icons (such as the taskbar and notification icons) appear in the upper right corner of the screen on top of the desktop background image.
• The weather is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen on top of the desktop background image.

Representatives of the company also said that the new OS team is now working on creating a new lock screen, notification center and, in general, a universal interface that can work both on touch screens and on devices with traditional keyboard and mouse controls. In addition, AI features will be added. It may well be that the AI ​​chatbot function will be integrated into the main search bar of Windows 12.

Why are more companies choosing ARM architecture?

It’s simple – the architecture has many advantages, including critical ones for modern hardware and applications:

• Ability to support heterogeneous and dynamically changing workloads. All thanks to the scalability that the chips provide, as well as their cost-effectiveness, as mentioned above.
• Solutions based on ARM chips can be adapted to perform a variety of tasks, including very highly specialized ones.
• In addition, the equipment is smaller than usual, so that the area is less.

The last point is especially important, since another trend has now emerged – the deployment of so-called small data centers by telecom operators and cloud service providers, which contribute to the active penetration of ARM processors into the market. In addition, the chips are in demand by hyperscalers and various edge computing vendors.

Well, in the near future we are waiting for news from Microsoft about its processor – it seems that something very interesting is brewing. And not only in terms of the chip itself, but also in terms of competition with other processor manufacturers.

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