Huge industry news to mention this morning! NVIDIA has confirmed they're buying Arm for $40 billion. This news comes after speculation over it for some time, which yesterday was finally announced.
Before getting wild with speculation about what will happen, NVIDIA noted a few keys points about the acquisition. Notably, they will actually keep the headquartered presence in Cambridge, UK and expand the R&D there with "establishing a world-class AI research and education center, and building an Arm/NVIDIA-powered AI supercomputer for groundbreaking research". Additionally, they will be continuing the same open-licensing model that Arm has along with "customer neutrality" and additionally they will be expanding Arm's IP licensing with some of NVIDIA's own tech.
Nothing is actually complete yet though, as these take time to go through all the proper channels. This includes regulatory approvals across the U.K., China, the European Union and the United States which they're estimating to take 18 months. See the full announcement here.
NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang also sent a letter to NVIDIA employees, which was posted officially online as well. In it, Huang mentions "Uniting NVIDIA’s AI computing with the vast reach of Arm’s CPU, we will engage the giant AI opportunity ahead and advance computing from the cloud, smartphones, PCs, self-driving cars, robotics, 5G, and IoT.".
NVIDIA were already a powerhouse, being the most popular desktop GPU brand and now they own Arm. What do you make of this news, what are you expecting to come from it? Let us know in the comments.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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WUUT!?!
That's huge.
(I wonder if ARM would have been a billion cheaper some months ago, before Mac officially changed to ARM and number one of the top 500 supercomputers was taken by ARM. ;) )
That's huge.
(I wonder if ARM would have been a billion cheaper some months ago, before Mac officially changed to ARM and number one of the top 500 supercomputers was taken by ARM. ;) )
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Not much will change in the short run, long run this is bad, licenses will be changed by nvidia as they now both own arm and will get more arm devices themselves and thus compete with the same people they sell licenses to. I guess risc v no longer sounds as bad for a lot of companies.
13 Likes, Who?
The thing I find mildly interesting about this is actually Apple. Just as they're switching to using ARM for laptops and (some) desktops, it is acquired by nvidia. Makes you wonder if Apple had actually tried to acquire ARM as well. Also makes you wonder whether nvidia is trying to get back into apple hardware.
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Like Bumadar said, this is VERY bad and i'll go further than him.
Remember the x86 license war against china to make them unable to produce or own x86 chips ?
Now that ARM is a US license, what will allow the US the revoke any ARM or x86 license to leverage decision against ANY country in the world ?
The US already threaten countries all around the globe with their dollars, now they can threaten with x86 and arm licenses to prevent countries to get super computer even for research. In Europe we're already very wary of the US expansionism.
That's the kind of move that will make open architecture like RISC V but also MIPS and others really worth investing. At least in Europe we have STM who studies RISC V and uses MIPS ( or a derivative of MIPS ) for micro controllers on top of ARM.
( I'm using and programming micro controllers in electronic projects as a hobby and I was looking for info about a european manufacturer if there was one, it's franco-italian from what I know, maybe i'll buy some stocks just in case )
Last edited by ElectroDD on 14 September 2020 at 9:19 am UTC
Remember the x86 license war against china to make them unable to produce or own x86 chips ?
Now that ARM is a US license, what will allow the US the revoke any ARM or x86 license to leverage decision against ANY country in the world ?
The US already threaten countries all around the globe with their dollars, now they can threaten with x86 and arm licenses to prevent countries to get super computer even for research. In Europe we're already very wary of the US expansionism.
That's the kind of move that will make open architecture like RISC V but also MIPS and others really worth investing. At least in Europe we have STM who studies RISC V and uses MIPS ( or a derivative of MIPS ) for micro controllers on top of ARM.
( I'm using and programming micro controllers in electronic projects as a hobby and I was looking for info about a european manufacturer if there was one, it's franco-italian from what I know, maybe i'll buy some stocks just in case )
Last edited by ElectroDD on 14 September 2020 at 9:19 am UTC
19 Likes, Who?
Not much will change in the short run, long run this is bad, licenses will be changed by nvidia as they now both own arm and will get more arm devices themselves and thus compete with the same people they sell licenses to. I guess risc v no longer sounds as bad for a lot of companies.
There is also the potential for abuse of arm's market position by linking gpu licensing to arm.
1 Likes, Who?
Interesting I do not think they bought it for desktop cpus though i think they are more targeting the mobile market but it could potentially be a big push towards cheaper gaming SOC whether that be for streaming or esports games. As for most you need a quad x86 performance if nvidia were to combine that performance with a Nvidia enhanced Mali gpu and we all know they have the r & d budget to do it. You could see a potential console/pc hybrid that might be worth a look if those are the games you are into.
On the other hand it could be terrible for consumers like acquisition like this see IBM buying red hat there are pitfalls and potential. Am glad they are keeping the offices here in the UK as they are driving a lot of jobs in the area thanks to them and Microsoft UK being based about 5 miles away.
On the other hand it could be terrible for consumers like acquisition like this see IBM buying red hat there are pitfalls and potential. Am glad they are keeping the offices here in the UK as they are driving a lot of jobs in the area thanks to them and Microsoft UK being based about 5 miles away.
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I was worried they'd shut down the Mali GPU to bring a brand new GPU product for ARM platforms and ensure a wider monopoly.
It turns out they also acquired "Arm Norway" which is part of the "Arm Holdings".
At least we'll get to see improved graphics and processing power on Arm platforms be it handheld or small laptops (pinebook for example).
But I'm really worried about open source licencing and " all Nvidia" devices as in Nvidia Arm SoC CPU + Nvidia GPU. They might slowly introduce proprietary optimisation extensions between CPU and GPU that would make the "all Nvidia" system the default consumer choice and lock competitors out (like AMD vs Physx or RTX scenari).
It turns out they also acquired "Arm Norway" which is part of the "Arm Holdings".
At least we'll get to see improved graphics and processing power on Arm platforms be it handheld or small laptops (pinebook for example).
But I'm really worried about open source licencing and " all Nvidia" devices as in Nvidia Arm SoC CPU + Nvidia GPU. They might slowly introduce proprietary optimisation extensions between CPU and GPU that would make the "all Nvidia" system the default consumer choice and lock competitors out (like AMD vs Physx or RTX scenari).
4 Likes, Who?
I am vaguely worried at a possible license change as nvidia now owns the IP that was sold to competitors. More anecdotal, i wonder what will happen to the MALI GPUs and their open source drivers.
Am guessing they will keep the name and you we start seeing propriety drivers for them on nvidia website, also nothing is going to stop Mesa drivers still working on Mali gpus granted support is still relatively new.
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They are buying ARM to be more competitive in the AI space so i think that mobile space will not see that much of a difference in the long run
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Am guessing they will keep the name and you we start seeing propriety drivers for them on nvidia website, also nothing is going to stop Mesa drivers still working on Mali gpus granted support is still relatively new.
Yeah, just like nothing prevents to have noveau woking as expected :P
NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang also sent a letter to NVIDIA employees, which was posted officially online as well. In it, Huang mentions "Uniting NVIDIA’s AI computing with the vast reach of Arm’s CPU, we will engage the giant AI opportunity ahead and advance computing from the cloud, smartphones, PCs, self-driving cars, robotics, 5G, and IoT.".
The transaction does not include Arm’s IoT Services Group.
Are they contradicting them self?
Last edited by x_wing on 14 September 2020 at 1:04 pm UTC
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EagleDelta Sep 14, 2020
Are they contradicting them self?
Nope, just because they aren't buying ARM's IoT division doesn't mean they won't use the sale to get into that market with whatever they produce.
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Am guessing they will keep the name and you we start seeing propriety drivers for them on nvidia website, also nothing is going to stop Mesa drivers still working on Mali gpus granted support is still relatively new.
Yeah, just like nothing prevents to have noveau woking as expected :P
NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang also sent a letter to NVIDIA employees, which was posted officially online as well. In it, Huang mentions "Uniting NVIDIA’s AI computing with the vast reach of Arm’s CPU, we will engage the giant AI opportunity ahead and advance computing from the cloud, smartphones, PCs, self-driving cars, robotics, 5G, and IoT.".
The transaction does not include Arm’s IoT Services Group.
Are they contradicting them self?
but noveau is to be fair to it is useless, Mesa who only what six months ago started supporting mali has already surpassed its capabilities when it comes to gaming.
1 Likes, Who?
They are buying ARM to be more competitive in the AI space so i think that mobile space will not see that much of a difference in the long run
Mmm yes but that also has a flip side are they going to continue Mobile development or is all R & D going into AI, in which case are we not going to see any improvements on current gen ARM cpu/GPU SOC chips. Obviously am only thinking about gaming of course there could be massive benefits in the broader market for AI improvements. Still not keen on driverless cars but that is a discussion for a different forum.
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Sounds like they want to poison ARM with more CUDA stuff. Not good.
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Arehandoro Sep 14, 2020
This is bad news.
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but noveau is to be fair to it is useless, Mesa who only what six months ago started supporting mali has already surpassed its capabilities when it comes to gaming.
I know, my point is that once upon a time noveau capabilities weren't that bad... but Nvidia happened.
2 Likes, Who?
I know, my point is that once upon a time noveau capabilities weren't that bad... but Nvidia happened.
You'd think that Linux users, who have been on the receiving end of FUD, would be slightly more careful with what they say. Unfortunately not the first time this has been proven wrong.
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This sucks big time, because it's going to create a new HPC hardware monopoly. Also given Nvidia's company "culture" about openness, this hardware monopoly can potentially become even worse.
Money is the only argument that prevents me from building an all-new full AMD rig and scrap both Nvidia and Intel parts for good right now.
Money is the only argument that prevents me from building an all-new full AMD rig and scrap both Nvidia and Intel parts for good right now.
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You'd think that Linux users, who have been on the receiving end of FUD, would be slightly more careful with what they say. Unfortunately not the first time this has been proven wrong.
So Noveau poor performance is not Nvidia fault? Facts != FUD.
2 Likes, Who?
They are buying ARM to be more competitive in the AI space so i think that mobile space will not see that much of a difference in the long run
Mmm yes but that also has a flip side are they going to continue Mobile development or is all R & D going into AI, in which case are we not going to see any improvements on current gen ARM cpu/GPU SOC chips. Obviously am only thinking about gaming of course there could be massive benefits in the broader market for AI improvements. Still not keen on driverless cars but that is a discussion for a different forum.
AI is Nvidia focus, but i find very hard that they arent going to continue in the mobile market.
Seriously, ARM is everywhere in these days, is being used my Microsoft, Apple, every smartphone out there.
Even the latest Tegra went with a ARM IP. There is no reason Nvidia would want that to stop just because they are nvidia.
And ARM can still with their usual business but with the AI arm having a stronger focus on the use cases of Nvidia.
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