Qualcomm is making yet another strong move to capture the server chip market, which is largely dominated by Intel. The new 64-bit Centriq 2400 will come with 48 cores and is the first to be built using a 10nm procedure.
The architecture is also ARM-based, rather than x86. The custom ARM cores are called Falkor. Intel currently only makes server chips on a 14nm procedure and also doesn’t offer more than 24 cores. By shipping the chips by the fall of 2017, Qualcomm will get a much-needed boost in the market. Intel is not likely going to offer a competitive variant of the Xeon by late 2018.
The 48 cores have been implemented on a single-socket part, rather than double-socket. According to Qualcomm, its production process will be the most-advanced yet.
The procedure will be replicated in the upcoming Snapdragon 835 mobile flagship chip which will be shipped by its partners before next year. The unconventional ARM-based approach should bring just as competitive speeds of the Intel Xeon, but will have better energy efficiency.
Qualcomm only entered the server CPU market last year, when it launched its 24-bit ARM chip. It is unlikely that Intel will take lightly to the competition, given half of its operating profit is derived from this market.
However, it is also just as likely that it doesn’t need to. With 99.3% of the market already using x86-based chips, it will have to hit more than a sizeable dent in the arena to capture some significant share.
Its a big move for Qualcomm to introduce the server level chip, 48-cores, 64bit, very good, but ARM based architecture ? It might be a big mistake and I think already failed before launch.
Its too soon to say something about failure or success. To me it looks like Intel has got a new competitor, similar scenario happened years ago when Intel launched its Atom series processors. At that time Qualcomm were the experts and it’s also worth noting that they had been powering portable devices for decades while Intel was a relative newcomer to this area. Now for server level chip Qualcomm is relatively a newcomer and Intel has got pretty much meat in manufacturing server level chips.
Well, as I said “I think” In my opinion, you can dis-agree with that, but as you know 99% Servers are X86 based architecture, and AMD was also trying its best to beat Intel with X86 based architecture, even tho. it din’t come closer, so ARM chances are pretty Low on Server market.
ARM chances are high
Reason :
In data centers
Performance per watt is a very important factor
Besides ARM is catching up in software compatibility :-)
Dont forget Intel’s 24-core is Hyper-threaded so essentially its 48-core to the O/S already, secondly Intel are based on x86 architecture rather than ARM where Linux is running on ARM windows have showed tests running on ARM CPU’s perfectly, and finally AMD’s Naples is coming with 32-core 64-threads on x86 essentially making them better option to choose from in server market besides they have expertise in ARM chips for servers already.
You can’t just say Intel is a loser because it has CPUs with less cores. Intel CPUs are x86 based and this architecture is much better than ARM as far as performance is concern.