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ARM Offers First Clockless Processor Core

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the timeless-decisions dept.

Sam Haine '95 writes "EETimes is reporting that ARM Holdings have developed an asynchronous processor based on the ARM9 core. The ARM996HS is thought to be the world's first commercial clockless processor. ARM announced they were developing the processor back in October 2004, along with an unnamed lead customer, which it appears could be Philips. The processor is especially suitable for automotive, medical and deeply embedded control applications. Although reduced power consumption, due to the lack of clock circuitry, is one benefit the clockless design also produces a low electromagnetic signature because of the diffuse nature of digital transitions within the chip. Because clockless processors consume zero dynamic power when there is no activity, they can significantly extend battery life compared with clocked equivalents."

11 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Soooo... by Morkano · · Score: 5, Funny

    Soooo... How many mHz does it run at?

    --
    Victory or awesome!
    1. Re:Soooo... by neverkevin · · Score: 5, Funny

      "1. Equivalent MHz is the speed in MHz needed by an ARM968E-S to achieve equivalent performance"

    2. Re:Soooo... by coren2000 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I tried to figure it out, but I got a divide by 0 error.

    3. Re:Soooo... by Kj0n · · Score: 5, Funny

      Note that the parent didn't ask for MHz, but for mHz instead.

      The correct answer is: 50000000000000 - 70000000000000 mHz.

  2. ARM? by aapold · · Score: 4, Funny

    Those were the guys that fought the CORE, right?

    --
    "Waste not one watt!" - CZ
    1. Re:ARM? by Nebu · · Score: 5, Funny

      Interestingly enough, Intel's latest project is being called "CORE". So yes, ARM is probably going to end up fighting CORE again.

  3. The summary by suv4x4 · · Score: 5, Funny

    So in short, your next smart clock may as well have a CPU without a clock.
    Those damn young'uns and their newfangled clockless clocks.

  4. So, no more System clock in the corner of my OS? by ollj · · Score: 5, Funny

    "What time is it?" "Shut! The! Fuck! Up! I'm saving energy here!"

  5. Sweet! by ixtapa · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't wait to get my hands on one of these and over-asynch the hell out of it. Imagine running it under dry ice - I bet it could run up to 50% more clockless over its default clocklessnes.

  6. Re:They come in; fast, faster, fastest and OMGspee by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 5, Funny

    They come in 4 models: fast faster fastest OMGspeed

    I thought they came in Light Speed, Ridiculous Speed and LUDICROUS SPEED!

  7. Overclocking by Gertlex · · Score: 4, Funny

    So I take it you can't overclock it? :D