Qualcomm Technologies announces new specs for ARM-based data-center SoC

On Thursday, Qualcomm Technologies announced early specs for a new ARM-based data center system on a chip (SoC), expanding beyond mobile chips into server processors for the first time. It’s one of the most advanced server processors, and could be a low-power alternative.

Over the years, server processors have consolidated in the hands of a couple of heavyweights, so competition could do the industry some good. Qualcomm Technologies' server SoC technology can support a variety of data center needs, including infrastructure-as-a-service, platform-as-a service, big data, and machine learning, which are increasingly ingrained in the server computer world. High-performance processors are necessary to support the intense pressure on cloud infrastructure and the movement to hyperscale data centers.

Qualcomm Technologies envisions the cloud evolving from silos to a more integrated cloud infrastructure by 2020, and this announcement is a step in that direction.

Here’s what the media is saying about the advanced processor:

• Qualcomm enters server CPU market with 24-core ARM chip — PCWorld
• Qualcomm begins sampling Server Development Platform — ZDNet
• Qualcomm Shows Off First Server Chip in Effort to Expand — Bloomberg
• Watch out Intel! Qualcomm shows off a 24-core server chip — Fortune
• Smartmobe brain maker Qualcomm teases 64-bit ARM server chip secrets — The Register