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IBM Unveils Plans to Promote and Improve Power Chip Design Amid Apple's Departure

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

IBM has announced plans to go on the offensive in promoting and improving its Power chip design, following Apple's surprise decision to switch from Power chips to Intel chips last year. As part of this initiative, IBM and its partners in the Power.org consortium are set to unveil the latest upgrade to the Power design, marking the beginning of significant improvements. The next step is the release of the Power ISA (instruction set architecture) version 2.03, which will serve as the base design for all future Power chips. This move comes as IBM seeks to expand its market reach and counter the dominance of Intel and ARM in the chip market.

Key Takeaways:

  • IBM and its partners in Power.org aim to unveil the latest upgrade to the Power design, marking a significant step in improving the chip.
  • The new Power ISA (instruction set architecture) version 2.03 will serve as the base design for all future Power chips.
  • Power.org will introduce its first marketing logo, the Power band, which symbolizes the continuity and transformation of the Power design.
  • IBM's manager of Power ecosystem development, Bill Dykas, has stated that the company has spent the last few years focusing on technical specifications and is now ready to step up development and marketing.
  • Analyst Shane Rau of research firm IDC believes that having a single body to nurture the standard will do good things for the Power design.
  • Power is used in various applications, including IBM's System p5 line of servers, some IBM supercomputers, and the Mars Rover.

Statistics:

  • Power chips had 3.3% of the noncomputer market in 2005, with 60 million units sold.
  • ARM accounted for 71% of unit sales in the noncomputer market in 2005, with over 1.2 billion units sold.
  • Office 1 chipmaker Intel powers about 80% of PCs.
  • Advanced Micro Devices accounts for almost all the rest of the PC market.

Sources:

  • Rau, Shane. Analyst with research firm IDC.
  • Dykas, Bill. Manager of Power ecosystem development at IBM.
  • McKay, Lynelle. Vice president at Freescale.
  • Power.org consortium members.

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