ARM releases details of ARMv8 architecture

Designed to broaden the ARM architecture to embrace 64bit processing and extend virtual addressing, it builds on the 32bit ARMv7 architecture on which cores such as the Cortex-A9 and Cortex-A15 processors are built. According to the organisation, ARMv8 will expand the reach of ARM processor based solutions into consumer and enterprise applications where extended virtual addressing and 64bit data processing are required. It consists of two main execution states, AArch64 and AArch32, the first of which introduces a new instruction set, A64 for 64bit processing. The latter state supports the existing ARM instruction set. The key features of the current ARMv7 architecture, including TrustZone, virtualisation and NEON advanced SIMD, are maintained or extended in the ARMv8 architecture. "With our increasingly connected world, the market for 32bit processing continues to expand and evolve creating new opportunities for 32bit ARMv7 based processors in embedded, real time and open application platforms," said Mike Muller, ARM's cto, pictured. "We believe the ARMv8 architecture is ideally suited to enable the ARM partnership to continue to grow in 32bit application spaces and bring diverse, innovative and energy efficient solutions to 64bit processing markets." ARM says it is working to ensure a robust design ecosystem to support the 64bit instruction set. The ARM compiler and Fast Models with ARMv8 support have already been made available to some of its ecosystem partners and initial support for a range of open source operating systems is in development. ARM believes the ARMv8 architecture will enable the development of ARM architecture compatible devices that can be designed to maximise the benefits across both 32 and 64bit application areas. This, it says, will bring energy efficient 64bit computing to new applications such as high end servers and computing, as well as offering backwards compatibility and migration for existing software through a consistent architecture. The ARMv8 architecture specifications are available now, while the company plans to disclose processors based on ARMv8 during 2012, with consumer and enterprise prototype systems expected in 2014.