Tuesday, October 19th 2021
Alibaba Goes Anti-x86: Open-Source RISC-V and 128-Core Arm Server Processors on the Horizon
With the x86 architecture, large hyperscale cloud providers have been experiencing all sorts of troubles, from high power consumption to the high pricing structure of these processors. Companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS) build their processors based on 3rd party instruction set architecture designs. Today, Alibaba, the Chinese giant, has announced the launch of two processors made in-house to serve everything from edge to central server processing. First in line is the RISC-V-based Xuantie series of processors, which can run anything from AliOS, FreeRTOS, RT-Thread, Linux, Android, etc., to other operating systems as well. These processors are open-source, capable of modest processing capabilities, and designed as IPs that anyone can use. You can check them out on T-Head GitHub repositories here.
The other thing that Alibaba announced is the development of a 128-core custom processor based on the Arm architecture. Called Yitian 710 server SoC, TSMC manufactures it on the company on 5 nm semiconductor node. So far, Alibaba didn't reveal any details about the SoC and what Arm cores are used. However, this signifies that the company seeks technology independence from outside sources and wants to take it all in-house. With custom RISC-V processors for lower-power tasks and custom Arm server CPUs, the whole infrastructure is covered. It is just a matter of time before Alibaba starts to replace x86 makers in full. However, given the significant number of chips that the company needs, it may not happen at any sooner date.
Sources:
CnTechPost (Arm CPU), Pandaily (RISC-V CPUs)
The other thing that Alibaba announced is the development of a 128-core custom processor based on the Arm architecture. Called Yitian 710 server SoC, TSMC manufactures it on the company on 5 nm semiconductor node. So far, Alibaba didn't reveal any details about the SoC and what Arm cores are used. However, this signifies that the company seeks technology independence from outside sources and wants to take it all in-house. With custom RISC-V processors for lower-power tasks and custom Arm server CPUs, the whole infrastructure is covered. It is just a matter of time before Alibaba starts to replace x86 makers in full. However, given the significant number of chips that the company needs, it may not happen at any sooner date.
15 Comments on Alibaba Goes Anti-x86: Open-Source RISC-V and 128-Core Arm Server Processors on the Horizon
Of course with ARM China under their thumbs they likely won't have to :slap:
Best of luck to Alibaba, though. Jack is not that friendly with his govt. these days, so who knows?
Fuck this x86 Duopol, like Intel vs AMD :peace:
Yeah Via Franchise alias Xiaoxin, but only on Chinese Market:mad:
ARM China has gone rogue. Stole a bunch of IP and gone dark. ARM cut them off before ARM-China stole the most modern stuff.EDIT: Apparently there are a bunch of corrections to the above article. Hmmm, I remember reading it a few weeks ago, but now I have to review again. www.extremetech.com/computing/326617-arm-refutes-accusations-of-ip-theft-by-its-arm-china-subsidiary
For now, ARM looks like its solidly a decent core for the Chinese market, being largely controlled by a Chinese-controlled company that is in an adversarial relationship with the original ARM-company.
ARM cores, such as Neoverse N1, are making incredible strides forward. But they're not Apple's chip by a long shot.
Amazon have already gone ahead with their graviton processors, MS was allegedly working on ARM CPU's last year and you have the Ampere Computing CPU's (Ampere Altra).
and don't forget that you can still get IBM Power servers if needed also
It is exciting with new tries on RISC-V, and I hope it goes well and they push upstream