Kevin Krewell

Analysis and comparison of current and future server processors and HPC accelerators from Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Broadcom, Cavium, Applied Micro, Samsung, Qualcomm, Tilera, Marvell, and Calxeda.

Everyone Needs IP

With rising transistor budgets and the trend toward system-on-a-chip design, designing an entire complex ASIC or ASSP in house has become increasingly impractical. As a result, the market for licensed function blocks, known as intellectual property (IP), is growing rapidly. The most popular IP blocks are programmable processors such as CPUs and GPUs. As system designers place more emphasis on differentiation through sophisticated user interfaces, we have seen surging… Show more

Everyone Needs IP

With rising transistor budgets and the trend toward system-on-a-chip design, designing an entire complex ASIC or ASSP in house has become increasingly impractical. As a result, the market for licensed function blocks, known as intellectual property (IP), is growing rapidly. The most popular IP blocks are programmable processors such as CPUs and GPUs. As system designers place more emphasis on differentiation through sophisticated user interfaces, we have seen surging interest in vision-processing IP as well.

Several suppliers provide CPU IP, each offering unique advantages. Some CPUs are easily customized, others are superscalar, while still others support multiprocessor implementations. GPUs can accelerate 2D, 3D, and/or vector graphics using fixed or programmable engines. Vision-processing IP supports automotive, smartphone, and tablet processors. For all types of IP, the available options range widely in performance, die area, and power.

The 2013 edition spanned almost 200 pages and covered ARM, Cadence (Tensilica), IBM, Imagination (MIPS), Synopsys (ARC), Vivante, Adapteva, Aeroflex Gaisler, Andes, Cortus, Beyond Semiconductor, Digital Media Professionals (DMP), and others. Show less

Wireless Connectivity Drives Mobility
Smartphone, tablet, and even laptop PC users want instant access to the Internet—anytime, anyplace, and without wires. Two technologies are the key to this wireless data flow: cellular and Wi-Fi. Cellular data is available almost anywhere, but carriers often restrict the amount of data each user can download. Wi-Fi access is often free and provides unlimited data. Both technologies are becoming ubiquitous in mobile devices.

Cellular-modem chips… Show more

Wireless Connectivity Drives Mobility
Smartphone, tablet, and even laptop PC users want instant access to the Internet—anytime, anyplace, and without wires. Two technologies are the key to this wireless data flow: cellular and Wi-Fi. Cellular data is available almost anywhere, but carriers often restrict the amount of data each user can download. Wi-Fi access is often free and provides unlimited data. Both technologies are becoming ubiquitous in mobile devices.

Cellular-modem chips, also known as thin modems, are paired with application processors in high-end smartphones such as Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy series. They also power USB dongles and data cards that provide cellular access in tablets and laptops. Nearly 500 million thin modems shipped in 2012, with Qualcomm and Intel leading the way. This report covers HSPA, TD-SCDMA, and LTE products from these leading vendors as well as from Altair, Leadcore, Marvell, Nvidia (Icera), Renesas, Sequans, Spreadtrum, and ST-Ericsson.

Wi-Fi technology is evolving from 802.11n to the new 802.11ac standard. It is most often delivered in a combo chip that may also include Bluetooth, FM, GPS, and even NFC. Qualcomm is the first vendor to integrate Wi-Fi into its application processors, an option that we expect to increase in popularity. More than one billion mobile Wi-Fi chips shipped in 2012, a number that we expect to grow to more than 1.6 billion in 2016. This report covers Qualcomm’s integrated Wi-Fi solution as well as mobile Wi-Fi chips from market-leader Broadcom, Marvell, MediaTek, Redpine, and Texas Instruments. Show less

Everyone Needs IP

With rising transistor budgets and the trend toward system-on-a-chip design, designing an entire complex ASIC or ASSP in house has become increasingly impractical. As a result, the market for licensed function blocks, known as intellectual property (IP), is growing rapidly. The most popular IP blocks are programmable processors such as CPUs and GPUs. As system designers place more emphasis on differentiation through sophisticated user interfaces, we have seen surging… Show more

Everyone Needs IP

With rising transistor budgets and the trend toward system-on-a-chip design, designing an entire complex ASIC or ASSP in house has become increasingly impractical. As a result, the market for licensed function blocks, known as intellectual property (IP), is growing rapidly. The most popular IP blocks are programmable processors such as CPUs and GPUs. As system designers place more emphasis on differentiation through sophisticated user interfaces, we have seen surging interest in vision-processing IP as well.

Several suppliers provide CPU IP, each offering unique advantages. Some CPUs are easily customized, others are superscalar, while still others support multiprocessor implementations. GPUs can accelerate 2D, 3D, and/or vector graphics using fixed or programmable engines. Vision-processing IP supports automotive, smartphone, and tablet processors. For all types of IP, the available options range widely in performance, die area, and power.

The 2012 edition included coverage of DSP IP, bulking the report to 240 pages. The research covered ARM, CEVA, IBM, Imagination Technologies, MIPS Technologies, Synopsys (ARC), Tensilica, Vivante, Adapteva, Aeroflex Gaisler, Beyond Semiconductor, Cognovo, Coresonic, Cortus, Digital Media Professionals (DMP), EnSilica, NXP, VeriSilicon and others. Show less

The hottest market right now is for the coolest processors. That's right, low-power but speedy processors are needed for handheld gadgets, including smartphones, tablet computers, e-book readers, personal navigation devices (PND), and medical equipment. These processors can also be used in other low-power applications such as wearable computers, automotive in-dash systems, Internet of Things (IoT), and digital signage.

The 2012 edition was over 220 pages and covered mobile technology and… Show more

The hottest market right now is for the coolest processors. That's right, low-power but speedy processors are needed for handheld gadgets, including smartphones, tablet computers, e-book readers, personal navigation devices (PND), and medical equipment. These processors can also be used in other low-power applications such as wearable computers, automotive in-dash systems, Internet of Things (IoT), and digital signage.

The 2012 edition was over 220 pages and covered mobile technology and market forecasts, in addition to in-depth analysis of vendors such as Broadcom, Freescale, Intel, Marvell, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Samsung, ST-Ericsson, Texas Instruments, Apple, HiSilicon, Ingenic, LG, MediaTek, Nokia, Renesas Mobile, Rockchip, VIA (WonderMedia), ZiiLabs and others. Show less

"Mobile Semiconductor Market Share Forecast 2013-2018" covers chips that go into smartphones, tablets, and other handheld devices. It provides a preview of 2014 market share and a forecast for market share through 2018. This report is unique in breaking down market share by vendor throughout the forecast period. Our model uses ongoing shifts in OEM share, technology (e.g., transition to integrated Wi-Fi), and product categories (e.g., tablet computers) to forecast which chip suppliers will… Show more

"Mobile Semiconductor Market Share Forecast 2013-2018" covers chips that go into smartphones, tablets, and other handheld devices. It provides a preview of 2014 market share and a forecast for market share through 2018. This report is unique in breaking down market share by vendor throughout the forecast period. Our model uses ongoing shifts in OEM share, technology (e.g., transition to integrated Wi-Fi), and product categories (e.g., tablet computers) to forecast which chip suppliers will benefit and which will lose out.

I contributed to the 2012 edition, which has been updated with newer market share information. There has been a dramatic shake-out in the mobile-processor markets in the last two years. Show less