ARM vs X86 : How to make a choice? [closed]

StackOverflow https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2223054

  •  19-09-2019
  •  | 
  •  

Question

I have recently seen 32 bit ARM processors. I wonder why we can't construct a desktop computer using it. In that case how it differ from X86 ? Do the ARM architecture consume less power ..is it the reason of using them in embedded systems ?

  • Why do we have two (ARM and X86) processor architectures ?
  • Why do we generally use ARM architecture for embedded and x86 for workstations ?
  • What is a general criteria for selecting one over the other.
Was it helpful?

Solution

You have evidently led a very sheltered life - there are many more processor architectures than just x86 and ARM.

ARM has very good performance per watt, so is particularly suited to mobile/embedded systems.

There have been desktop systems with ARM CPUs in the past - look up Acorn Archimedes. Unfortunately the lowest common denominator (i.e. Microsoft) currently prevails in the operating system (and therefore application) market-place, but that will not always be the case.

Licensed under: CC-BY-SA with attribution
Not affiliated with StackOverflow
scroll top