ARM CPU Summary

1. ARM's current processor core architecture classification

2. ARM CORTEX-A Series Processor contrast

As can be seen from the illustration, the Cortex-a series is the latest open operating system of high-performance processors, arm for the smartphone and mid Plate launched a series of processors. ARM7, 9, 11 is the classic series, that is, the previous generation of processors, including ARM9, ARM11 architecture was adopted more, there are many midrange mid-plate processor using this framework.

The biggest difference between the Cortex-a series and the ARM7, 9, 11 series is the use of different instruction sets, the CORTEX-A series using the ARMv7 instruction set, and ARM11 using the ARMv6 instruction set. The so-called instruction set, popular understanding is a method of operation, is to improve the efficiency of the CPU running one of the most effective tools. The more new The instruction set, the better the operation of this architecture, the higher the performance, so, the current ARMV7 instruction set, compared to the previous release of ARMV6, ARMV5 instruction set has significantly improved.

3. ARM Processor Technical characteristics Comparison

ARM9: Instruction set ARMV5, located in the low-end processor, provides approximately 1100 dmips performance.
ARM11: Instruction set ARMV6, located at the midrange general-purpose processor, provides approximately 1200 dmips performance.
CORTEX-A8: Instruction set ARMV7, the first generation of ARMV7 instruction set of the new architecture, located in the high-end market, can provide cost-effective high-performance, at the 600mhz-1ghz frequency, the performance of more than dmips.
CORTEX-A9: The enhanced version of the instruction set ARMV7,A8 and the start of supporting Multi-Core, which provides a standard frequency for 800mhz-2ghz, each of which provides 2500DMIPS of performance.
CORTEX-A5: Instruction set armv7,a9 simplified version, used to replace ARM11, the main Low-cost market, at the 400-800mhz frequency, the performance of more than 1200DMIPS, no products listed.
CORTEX-A15: Instruction set ARMV7, currently the latest strongest ARM processor, no product listing.

4. Performance comparison of mainstream arm processors

At present, the CPU of the ARMV7 instruction set is mainly cortex-a8 and A9, the difference is that the CORTEX-A8 architecture design only considers the single core operation, cannot realize multi-core operation, but improves the performance by the way of increasing the main frequency and improving the technology. While CORTEX-A9 is designed to fully consider the trend of single core and future multicore, can be extended later, so A9 architecture processor, in addition to single core products, can also be extended to dual-core or even four-core processors (CORTEX-A9 MPCore multi-core processors). In addition, in the specification of L2 (level two cache), A8 supports up to 2MB, while A9 can support 8MB, which also improves processor performance to some extent, and CORTEX-A9 represents the most advanced architecture level in the leading ARMV7 instruction set. (until 2012)

In fact, the next October 18, 2015, CORTEX-A53/57 Arch64 multi-core ARM processor, formal mainstream and direction. Forward.......