EC funding ARM datacentre power research

ARM wants to see its multi-core processors in datacentres

ARM has announced EuroCloud, a European Commission-funded project designed to investigate the use of its multi-core processors in datacentres in order to improve energy efficiency.

The chip maker explained that it will partner with Nokia, IMEC, EPFL and the University of Cyprus to analyse the value proposition of coupling low-power processing with 3D chip packaging systems.

Combined, ARM expects these could lead to improvements in cost and energy efficiency when compared to the approach used in "incumbent server platforms".

Such systems are not as efficient as they could be, according to ARM, and create power, cooling and density challenges for firms looking to run or host web 2.0 applications.

"We need breakthroughs in energy-efficient multi-core computing. EuroCloud is an exciting research project that brings leading European low-power technologies from embedded computing to general-purpose computing," said Panagiotis Tsarchopoulos, EuroCloud project officer.

Specifically, EuroCloud will investigate the use of ARM's Cortex A9 MPCore multi-core processor, along with 3D DRAM structures and packaging technology, to cut cost and energy.

"The ARM design philosophy has focused on optimising energy efficiency to enable mobile platforms for 20 years," said Krisztian Flautner, vice president for research at ARM.

"The performance levels and new functionality supported in our latest processors have reached the level where it is appropriate to see how ARM technology can be applied to solve the massive energy challenges that exist in wireline equipment, including datacentres."