X-bit Labs reports startup Elbrus Technologies is working on an x86 emulator for ARM processors. The emulation software currently delivers 40 percent of native ARM performance, but the company is confident it can achieve 80 percent by the end of 2014.
Many companies nowadays, including Applied Micro, Calxeda, Cavium, Marvell, Nvidia and Samsung, are developing server-class ARM-architecture processors. However, the impact that such chips can have on server market is relatively limited as they cannot run mainstream programs designed for x86 chips made by Advanced Micro Devices or Intel Corp.
The emulation software of Elbrus Technologies currently delivers 40% of native ARM performance. The company believes it could reach 80% native ARM performance or greater by the end of 2014, reports EETimes web-site. Considering the fact that ARM-based central processing units (CPUs) are generally slower than x86 chips, the emulation software is still not absolutely the best way to drive ARM processors into servers.
