Arm vs Qualcomm: mutually assured destruction

[Theinsanegamer]

Qualcomm don't control Android or any OS. The biggest problem with "Windows on Arm" or "Windows on Snapdragon" is the Processor is developed by Qualcomm and the Operating System by Microsoft. Both companies need to collaborate deeply.
In the case of Smartphones, Qualcomm would have to collaborate with Google to bring Android on RISC-V to mass market.
It takes years.
Nvidia like Apple control the hardware and software. It is easier for them but it also takes time for both. It took Apple years for Mac OS to adopt Arm even though iOS was already on Arm for years. NVidia have the success they enjoy today not just because of great hardware but more because of great software due to pivoting early to CUDA then Crypto then AI.
I hope the future is more open source, maybe in a couple of decades, RISC-V and Linux will be in the lead.
For now it would take Qualcomm and Google too long to bring Android on RISC-V, they have to find a solution with Arm.
In the same way it will take years to get Android on x86x64.

Android already supports RISC V, although it is experimental. Google is still developing it.

As for x86 android, anyone wanna tell him that asus made intel x86 android phones a decade ago? It's not 2010 anymore.

Qualcomm needs to spend billions of dollars for R&D if they go RISC-V instead.

Nvidia went RISC-V, because they have the funds for R&D. Qualcomm don't.

Qualcomm's NET revenue last quarter was over $2 BILLION. Total gross revenue for 2023 was $36 billion. Qualcomm spent $9.1 billion on R+D in 2023. Nvidia spent $7.34. These companies and their financials are public.

But please, tell us more on how qualcomm cant afford this.

 

[Shirley Dulcey]

Might this push Qualcomm towards ARM's open-source competitor RISC-V?

Exactly. If Arm wins they'll get a bunch of money in the short term, but in the long run Qualcomm will drop Arm and after that they'll get nothing. I'm sure the Nuvia engineers are already working on a RISC-V chip.

 

[Shirley Dulcey]

Also, just to add, the clock speed on the 8 Elite is 18.5% higher compared to the X925 in the 9400, yet the Elite scores only around 12% higher in single core, thus it actually has a lower IPC vs ARM latest core, facts are facts...

You're comparing a brand new Arm design to a Nuvia design that was completed a while ago and which is already in volume production. Qualcomm and Nuvia won't stand still.