What's the Difference ARM Processors & x86 Processors?

Intel's x86 microprocessors have been the basis of all consumer computers for the last three decades. However, new types of devices like smartphones and tablets are using a different technology called ARM. This article takes a look at the differences between these two technologies.

• Understanding the Terms

  Before we go into differences between ARM and x86, it's important to first clarify what's were really talking about when these terms are used.

  ARM and x86 are not processor architectures in the same way as, say, Intel's Sandy Bridge or AMD's Bobcat. When the term architecture is used in reference to a specific end product, the term is making reference to the overall design of that processor. There are a lot of parts that go into this including cache, processor cores, etc.

  ARM and x86 are instead what's known as an instruction set architecture. This is the part of a computer processor related to programming. In essence, it's the translator that turns the code a machine is running into instructions a processor can understand and execute. These are very simple mathematical instructions that add, multiply, divide and etc, but billions are executed every second. The constant execution of instructions by the processor creates a functional computer.

  If you try to execute a program designed specifically for one instruction set architecture on the other, you won't get much of a result because the processor has no idea what you're trying to tell it. Instruction set architecture is an incredibly important part of a processor, determining which operating systems and apps a processor is able to run.

  
  

  

  
  

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