Custom CPU cores vs Arm Cortex cores: which one is best for you?

Custom CPU cores are processor cores that are made by a certain company or manufacturer for their own use or to sell to other companies. These cores are made to fit the needs of the device or application in terms of performance, power, or features. Custom CPUs cores can be made to work better for certain tasks and offer unique features that meet the needs of the manufacturer or the needs of their target market.

Arm Cortex cores, on the other hand, are a group of processor cores made by Arm Holdings, a company that designs both hardware and software. Arm Cortex cores are used in a lot of different devices, like smartphones, tablets, embedded systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. They are based on a standard architecture made by Arm and are known for using less power, having balanced performance, and being able to grow. Arm Cortex cores are licensed to manufacturers, who put them in their products and take advantage of the wide range of software and apps that work with them.

Custom CPU cores vs Arm Cortex cores Pricing

Developing and making custom CPU cores usually costs more money. To design and make custom CPU cores, you have to spend a lot of money on research, development, and know-how. In this process, you design and optimize the core architecture, test it a lot, and make sure it works well with other parts of the system. Custom CPU cores are more expensive because they are more complex and require more resources to make.

Arm Cortex cores, on the other hand, are a more cost-effective option. Arm Holdings, the company that makes Arm Cortex cores, gives manufacturers a standard architecture that they can use with a license. This makes it easier to add to a wide range of devices and takes advantage of the economies of scale. Arm Cortex cores are licensed to manufacturers, so they can use a well-tested architecture without having to do a lot of custom work. When compared to making custom CPU cores from scratch, this method often saves money.

Arm Cortex cores are useful for a wide range of devices and applications because they are cheap. It lets companies get products to market quickly and easily, which saves money on development costs. Also, the fact that there are different Cortex core configurations with different levels of performance makes it possible to find the right balance between performance and cost.

Custom CPU cores vs Arm Cortex cores Comparison Table

FeatureCustom CPU CoresArm Cortex Cores
ArchitectureProprietary architecture designed by the manufacturerDeveloped by Arm Holdings
Design FlexibilityAllows for custom designs tailored to specific requirementsFollows a standardized architecture
PerformancePotential for higher performance with optimized designsOffers a balance between performance and power efficiency
Power EfficiencyCan be optimized for power efficiency based on design goalsKnown for its power-efficient designs
Software EcosystemMay require specific software optimizations for best resultsBenefits from a large and mature software ecosystem
Development TimeLonger development time due to custom design and optimizationFaster time-to-market with established Arm architecture
AvailabilityLimited to specific devices or manufacturersAvailable for a wide range of devices and manufacturers
CostCustom CPU cores can be more expensive to develop and produceArm Cortex cores offer cost-effective solutions

Custom CPU cores vs Arm Cortex Design Flexibility

Custom CPU cores vs Arm Cortex cores

Arm Cortex cores are more limited in how they can be designed than custom CPU cores. With custom CPU cores, manufacturers are free to come up with their own architectures that meet their needs. This lets them make sure the design of the core is the best it can be for performance, power efficiency, or any other goal they have in mind. Custom CPU cores can be fine-tuned to get the most performance out of the hardware. This makes them good for specialized applications or devices that need a certain level of performance.

Arm Cortex cores, on the other hand, use a standard architecture made by Arm Holdings. This standardization makes sure that a wide range of devices can work together and are compatible with each other, but it also limits how flexible the designs can be. Manufacturers can’t make big changes to the core architecture itself, but they can focus on improving other parts, like the cache hierarchy, memory systems, or how well they work together with other parts.

Custom CPU cores are easy to design, which gives manufacturers more control over the hardware and lets them make it fit their needs. On the other hand, it could take longer to develop and could be more expensive. Arm Cortex cores, on the other hand, offer a good balance between performance and power consumption. They also have a mature software ecosystem that has been around for a long time.

Custom CPU cores vs Arm Cortex cores Performance

Custom CPU cores vs Arm Cortex cores

Arm Cortex cores could be slower than custom CPU cores, but custom CPU cores could be faster. Based on their needs, manufacturers can make custom cores with specific optimizations to boost performance. They can tweak the core architecture, pipeline design, cache hierarchy, and other parts to get the best performance out of the hardware. This level of customization lets specific use cases or applications get better performance and be better optimized.

Arm Cortex cores, on the other hand, offer a good balance between speed and power use. They are made to have a good balance of performance capabilities while putting power efficiency and overall system performance first. Arm Cortex cores are used in many devices, from smartphones to embedded systems, and are known for their energy-efficient designs. They offer a consistent level of performance that works well with a wide range of applications and devices.

In terms of performance, the choice between custom CPU cores and Arm Cortex cores depends on what the device or app needs. Custom CPU cores are useful for situations where getting the most out of the hardware is important, like when doing high-performance computing or specialized tasks that need hardware that works well. Arm Cortex cores, on the other hand, can be used in a wide range of devices that want to find a good balance between performance and power consumption. These devices can take advantage of the mature and well-supported Arm ecosystem.

Custom CPU cores: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Higher performance potential with optimized designs.
  • Tailored to specific requirements and applications.
  • Can offer unique features and capabilities.

Cons

  • Higher development and production costs.
  • Longer development time.
  • Limited availability to specific manufacturers or devices.

Arm Cortex cores: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Power-efficient designs.
  • Well-established and widely supported architecture.
  • Extensive software ecosystem and compatibility.
  • Cost-effective solution for a broad range of devices.

Cons

  • Limited customization options.
  • Performance may not match that of highly optimized custom cores.
  • Less tailored to specific requirements compared to custom CPU cores.

Which one should you consider?

Custom CPU cores offer better performance and more options, but they cost more to develop and make. Arm Cortex cores offer a good balance of performance and power efficiency at a lower cost, thanks to a standard architecture and a well-established ecosystem. Arm Cortex cores or custom CPU cores? That depends on what the device or application needs, how much money you have, and how much customization you want.

FAQs

What are custom cores?

A custom core is a CPU core design made by Arm architectural licensees that is compatible with the Arm ISA but isn’t an Arm Cortex-A.A design

What is ARM CPU cores?

ARM processors are a group of central processing units (CPUs) that are based on the RISC architecture. Advanced RISC Machine is what ARM stands for.

Amy Hinckley
Amy Hinckley
The Dell Inspiron 15 that her father purchased from QVC sparked the beginning of her interest in technology. At Bollyinside, Amy Hinckley is in charge of content editing and reviewing products. Amy's interests outside of working include going for bike rides, playing video games, and watching football when she's not at her laptop.

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