On December 5th, news: Windows operating system is increasingly using non-Intel processors, eroding Intel’s market share in PC processors. In the PC market, Apple’s Mac and Google’s Chromebook are encroaching on the market share of Windows-based devices powered by Intel chips. Various indications suggest that Windows-based devices are increasingly using non-Intel chip drivers. In the future, the Windows operating system may run in the cloud and may also be driven by non-Intel chips. Today, Apple has almost completely abandoned using Intel chips, and Microsoft is also accelerating its move away from Intel chips. Qualcomm plans to launch Arm-based chips for PCs. These tech giants are all trying to distance themselves from Intel chips, posing a threat to Intel from the entire industry.
01
Apple has nearly completely abandoned the use of Intel chips and shifted to Arm architecture.
For over a decade, almost all Apple PCs used Intel chips. According to StatCounter, a website traffic monitoring organization, Apple’s PC market share in the United States has surged from around 12% in 2013 to nearly one-third at present.
However, Apple has now almost entirely abandoned Intel chips. As the first company to bet on chips based on the Arm architecture (previously thought suitable only for phones), Apple leads in designing energy-efficient chips compared to Intel and other industry players. Today, power efficiency has become a primary consideration for the performance of all devices, not just phones.
Google’s Chrome OS operating system, combined with Arm-based chips, poses a new threat to Microsoft. Therefore, Microsoft has had to work hard to make the Windows operating system capable of running on Arm-based chips to maintain the health of its PC ecosystem.
Now, companies like Google, Qualcomm, Amazon, and Apple can use Arm architecture to custom-design chips, driving all devices from phones and PCs to cloud servers.
PCs might no longer be embedded with Intel chips but rather feature chips from a range of manufacturers, including Qualcomm, NVIDIA, AMD, Amlogic, or MediaTek.
For everyday consumers, nostalgia is at play. In the future, the ‘Intel Inside’ stickers that have been on personal computers since 1991 might cease to exist.
02
‘Wintel’ Alliance Facing Crisis as Microsoft, Amazon, and Qualcomm Bet on Arm
The predicament currently faced by Intel has deep roots.
In 1993, a small chip design company called Arm manufactured a mobile processor for Apple, used in the first Newton handheld computer. Since then, leveraging its business in mobile chips, Arm has grown rapidly. Intel only attempted to enter the mobile processor arena in 2011.
For decades, Intel and Microsoft monopolized the PC market through the ‘Wintel’ alliance, holding a dominant position. However, Microsoft has now begun to ‘distance’ itself from Intel chips in many ways and forms.
Microsoft is striving to enable Windows operating systems and other software for remote access in the cloud. This means customers can use cheaper and simpler devices than traditional PCs, significantly saving costs. Bulky devices driven by Intel chips on office desks can be entirely replaced by more convenient devices powered by Arm-based chips.
In mid-November, Microsoft introduced custom chips based on the Arm architecture, including one named Cobalt, used in data centers to run cloud-based Windows operating systems.
Recently, Amazon also launched a small cube-shaped device resembling a PC, called WorkSpaces Thin Client. It streams Windows and applications from the cloud. Priced at $200, this transformed Fire TV Cube streaming device is powered by Amlogic’s Arm-based chips.
To replace Intel-based chips, Qualcomm is set to release Arm-based chips for PCs. These chips not only connect devices to the cloud but also handle the devices’ substantial workload.
03
Epilogue: CEO’s Return Might Bring Renewal to Intel’s PC Business
Pat Gelsinger, the CEO of Intel, returned to the company in 2021 after spending 30 years of his career there. Intel’s Vice President of Chip Performance, Dan Rogers, stated, ‘Pat Gelsinger’s return has revitalized Intel, strengthening its momentum in PC development.’
Intel plans to introduce a new generation of chips for ultrabooks. Historically, Apple’s devices have outperformed Windows devices with Intel chips in this field. Intel has also pledged to catch up with its primary competitor, TSMC, in advanced chip manufacturing technology by 2025.
Patrick Moorhead, former AMD executive and current head of technology analysis firm Moor Insights & Strategy, said, ‘Never count Intel out.’ The consumer electronics sector is full of variables, and disruptive changes could happen overnight. Intel remains a strong competitor, and the current challenges it faces are not set in stone. The situation is dynamic, and stagnation is not inevitable; everything remains uncertain.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Related:
- Discover Silicon Photonics Chip Manufacturing Technology
- Landmark AI Legislation Takes Effect Worldwide
- Understanding Why 256GB SSD Storage Shrinks Over Time
- NVIDIA B200: Power Specs And More Details Revealed!
- How Trump 2024 Election Affects the Semiconductor Sector?
- Revolutionizing Microsoft Windows: New AI Features
- Reviving the Chip Market: How Large Models Spark New Life
- Intel Crisis: Unstable Gaming on 13th & 14th Gen CPUs!
- Google Unveils Axion: Revolutionary Arm CPU for Data Centers
Disclaimer: This article is created by the original author. The content of the article represents their personal opinions. Our reposting is for sharing and discussion purposes only and does not imply our endorsement or agreement. If you have any objections, please contact us through the provided channels.
