Like Apple and Amazon, Microsoft appears to be working on the development of its own processors based on the ARM architecture. The chips are mainly intended for servers, but the company is also looking at possibilities for the Surface line.
The rumours originate from Bloomberg sources. In response, a Microsoft spokesperson told the website that the company is “continuing to invest in its own capabilities in areas like design, manufacturing and tools, while also fostering and strengthening partnerships with a wide range of chip providers”. The spokesperson did not share any specific details about a chip being developed.
Microsoft and ARM
Although Microsoft has never developed its own processors before, the company has been working on ARM versions of Windows for a long time. In 2012, it released the Surface RT, the first ARM device to run a full version of Windows.
The company recently released the Surface Pro X, with an ARM processor specially developed for the tablet. The chip comes in two variants, called Microsoft SQ1 and Microsoft SQ2. In practice, these are slightly modified versions of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx.
Related: Review: Microsoft Surface Pro 7 2-in-1 Business PC
Increasing focus on ARM
Other companies are also investing in the development of ARM-based equipment. Earlier this year, Amazon announced the second generation of its Gravitron data centre processors and Apple released its first computers with Apple Silicon M1 processors last month.
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