Common Computer Processor Architectures

Table of contents

2. x86 architecture and ARM architecture

3. Differences and connections between x86, x86_64/x64, amd64 and arm64/aarch64

1. Common processor architecture

There are many types of computer processor architectures, the following are some common processor architectures:

x86 series : includes x86 (IA-32), x86_64 (also known as AMD64 or Intel 64), used in personal computers and servers.
ARM series : Widely used in mobile devices, embedded systems, and low-power devices such as smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices. Common ARM architectures include ARMv7, ARMv8-A (including 64-bit architecture aarch64), etc.
MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages): Mainly used in embedded systems and network devices.
Power Architecture : Originally developed by IBM, it is used in the field of server and high-performance computing.
SPARC (Scalable Processor Architecture): A RISC architecture, mainly used in servers and large multiprocessor systems.
Itanium (IA-64): A processor architecture jointly developed by Intel and HP for high-performance computing.
RISC-V : Based on the Open Instruction Set Architecture (Open Instruction Set Architecture, ISA), it is regarded as a free and open processor architecture.

In addition to the above-mentioned architectures, there are other specialized processor architectures, such as IBM's System z architecture (mainly used in mainframe systems) and Intel's IA-64 (Itanium architecture). Each architecture has its own characteristics, advantages and fields of application.

2. x86 architecture and ARM architecture

x86 architecture and ARM architecture are two different computer processor architectures.

1) x86 architecture

Architecture features: The x86 architecture adopts a complex architecture , also known as CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer). It contains multiple execution units and a complex pipeline structure to achieve high performance and versatile processing capabilities. The processor of the x86 architecture can execute multiple instructions at the same time, including complex arithmetic and logic operations, as well as floating-point operations and vector processing.
Addressing modes: The x86 architecture supports multiple addressing modes, including direct addressing, indirect addressing, base addressing, and indexed addressing. This allows x86 processors to directly access data in memory, providing greater flexibility and functionality.
Fields of application: The x86 architecture is mainly used in personal computers, servers, and high-performance computing , such as Intel's x86 and AMD's x86-64 processor series.

2) ARM architecture

Architecture features: ARM architecture uses a simplified architecture , also known as RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer). The design of the ARM architecture focuses on low power consumption and high performance. It uses a reduced instruction set, each instruction performs a relatively simple operation, and the number of instructions is relatively small. ARM processors generally have lower power consumption, efficient instruction execution, and smaller die area.
Addressing mode: ARM architecture supports multiple addressing modes, including immediate addressing, register addressing, base address plus index addressing, etc. ARM processors mainly use registers for operations, reducing direct access to memory, thereby improving energy efficiency and performance.
Applicable fields: ARM architecture is widely used in low-power applications such as embedded systems, mobile devices and Internet of Things devices . For example, smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, etc. often use ARM processors.

It should be noted that with the development of technology, the line between x86 and ARM architecture is gradually blurred. For example, ARM processors have also begun to be used in some desktop computers and server fields, while x86 processors are also used in some embedded systems. In addition, some hybrid architecture solutions have emerged, combining x86 and ARM architecture processors to play their respective advantages.

3. Differences and connections between x86, x86_64/x64, amd64 and arm64/aarch64

x86 (also known as IA-32): This is the 32-bit processor architecture used by vendors such as Intel (Intel) and AMD. Originally designed for personal computers (PCs) and servers, the x86 architecture is widely used in desktops and laptops. It is one of the most common and widely used architectures today.
x86_64/x64 (also known as AMD64): This is a 64-bit extended version of the x86 architecture, first introduced by AMD and later adopted by Intel and others. The x86_64 architecture maintains an instruction set compatible with x86, and has a larger address space and higher performance. Most modern personal computers and servers use the x86_64 architecture.
amd64 : This term is often used to refer to the x86_64 architecture, since AMD first introduced this 64-bit extended version of the x86 architecture. However, it can be used to describe virtually any vendor's processor that supports the x86_64 instruction set.
arm64/aarch64 : This is a 64-bit processor architecture based on the ARM architecture. The ARM architecture was originally designed for embedded systems and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. However, with the improvement of performance, the arm64 architecture has also begun to be widely used in fields such as servers and supercomputers.

Connection and difference:

x86, x86_64/x64, and amd64 all belong to the x86 family of architectures, and there is compatibility between them. x86_64 is an extension to x86, and amd64 is the naming of x86_64.
The x86 architecture is 32-bit, while x86_64, amd64, and arm64 are 64-bit, with larger addressing space and higher performance.
The x86 series architecture is mainly used in personal computers and servers, while the ARM architecture is mainly used in mobile devices and embedded systems. However, with the continuous development of ARM processors, they are also widely used in the server field.
The x86 architecture and the ARM architecture have different instruction sets and architectures , which means they require different instruction sets and operating system support when compiling and running software.

4. AMD and ARM

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) and ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) are two different companies, and they represent different processor architectures.

AMD : AMD is a semiconductor company founded in 1969 and headquartered in the United States. AMD designs and manufactures processors for the x86 and x86_64 architectures. These processors are widely used in personal computers (PCs), servers, and data centers. AMD's processors compete with Intel's and offer more options in terms of performance and price.
ARM : ARM is a British technology company founded in 1990. ARM's main business is to design low-power, high-performance processor architectures and related technologies. The ARM architecture uses Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) design principles and is widely used in mobile devices, embedded systems, and IoT devices. The ARM architecture is adopted by many processor manufacturers, including Apple, Qualcomm and Samsung.

Although AMD and ARM represent different processor architectures, they have some overlap in the market. For example, AMD has introduced processors based on the ARM architecture for use in data centers and servers. These processors take advantage of the low power consumption of the ARM architecture and have higher core density and energy efficiency compared to the x86 architecture. Therefore, there is a relationship of cooperation and competition between AMD and ARM, but they represent different processor architectures and different market positioning.