NVIDIA and Samsung no longer have ARM server plans

Bit Tech points out that despite all the interest in ARM processors for the server market, both Samsung and NVIDIA have decided to pull out of the market. NVIDIA is reportedly keeping its options open but decided to focus on focusing on high-end parts for its existing family of Tegra mobile chips. Earlier this week the company announced that its Tesla boards are getting into ARM-based HPC nodes but these systems feature CPUs from Applied Micro rather than NVIDIA's own Tegra series. Similarly, it seems Samsung is also getting cold feet about the ARM server market as the company abandoned its own efforts to make a server-oriented version of its Exynos.

Nvidia announced plans to release a variant of its Tegra ARM-based system-on-chip (SoC) family aimed at desktops, servers and supercomputers back in 2011 as Project Denver. Since then, the closest the company has come is the release of a Tegra K1-based development board dubbed the Jetson. Now, the Wall Street Journal is claiming that Nvidia is changing the goalposts, repositioning Denver as a high-performance entry in its existing Tegra line-up for mobile devices. A company spokesperson confirmed that fact, although claimed that Nvidia is 'keeping its options open' with regards to developing a desktop- or server-centric Denver variant in the future.

The paper also claims that Samsung, which produces its own range of mobile-centric ARM chips under the Exynos brand, has abandoned its own efforts to produce a server-centric processor. Although not directly confirmed by the company, a spokesperson did admit that 'Samsung Semiconductor has refocused some of its R&D [research and development] efforts.'