CPU (Central Processing Unit) and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) are two different types of processors in computers and other devices, each taking on distinct tasks and functions:

CPU: Responsible for executing program instructions, processing data, and controlling most operations of the computer. CPUs are designed to handle complex computational tasks, such as logical judgments, branching instructions, and sequential processing.

GPU: Specifically designed for rendering graphics and image data. GPUs excel at handling a large number of parallel tasks, such as graphic rendering, video decoding, and scientific computing. ARM GPU architecture.

ARM Mali GPU: The GPUs in RK series chips mostly adopt ARM's Mali series graphics processors, such as Mali-400, Mali-450, Mali-T860, Mali-G52, Mali-G76, etc. These GPU cores provide powerful graphic rendering capabilities to meet the demands of multimedia, gaming, and 3D graphic processing.

Multi-core Processor Design: Rockchip's SoC (System on Chip) often features a multi-core CPU design, combining ARM's big.LITTLE technology, which pairs high-performance cores with high-efficiency cores to achieve optimal performance and minimal power consumption under different loads.

ARM's CPU microarchitecture designs are a series of highly optimized processor core designs aimed at delivering high-performance and energy-efficient computing capabilities. These microarchitectures include everything from the early ARMv6 to the latest ARMv9 architecture, encompassing Cortex-A, Cortex-R, and Cortex-M series processors. They incorporate advanced technologies such as out-of-order execution, branch prediction, multi-level pipelines, Load/Store architecture, and instruction sets optimized for mobile and embedded devices. ARM's microarchitecture designs continue to evolve to support a broader range of applications, including smartphones, tablets, high-performance computing, and real-time systems.

ARM CPU Architecture

Instruction Set: The ARM architecture initially based on a 32-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) architecture, with the development of technology, ARM introduced the 64-bit ARMv8 architecture, further expanding the instruction set.

Performance and Energy Efficiency: Known for its high performance and low power consumption, the ARM architecture is particularly suitable for mobile devices and embedded systems.

Architecture Versions:

Microarchitecture Design: ARM's microarchitecture design includes multi-level pipelines, branch prediction, out-of-order execution, Load/Store architecture, etc., to achieve efficient instruction processing.

Multi-core Technology: ARM architecture supports multi-core processor designs, such as DynamIQ technology, allowing different types and numbers of CPU cores to share resources, optimizing performance and energy efficiency.

Application Range: ARM CPU architecture is widely used in smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, automotive electronics, IoT devices, and various other devices.

ARM's Cortex-A Series CPU Cores

ARM's Cortex-A series CPU cores are a series of microprocessor architectures designed for high-performance computing environments. They utilize the advanced ARM Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), supporting computing capabilities from 32-bit to 64-bit. These cores are widely used in smartphones, tablets, high-end embedded devices, digital TVs, and server markets. Known for their excellent energy efficiency, highly scalable performance, and advanced microarchitectural features, Cortex-A series cores continue to evolve to meet the growing processing demands, including support for complex applications, multimedia, and artificial intelligence tasks.

ARM GPU Architecture

Mali GPU Series: ARM's Mali GPU has evolved over the years to form multiple different architectures and product series to meet the varying needs for performance and energy efficiency. This includes the early Utgard architecture, Midgard architecture, and the more recent Bifrost and Valhall architectures.

Valhall Architecture: ARM introduced the Valhall architecture in 2019, a significant update to the Mali GPU, offering higher performance, density, and efficiency, especially the Mali-G77 GPU, which improved energy efficiency and area density by 30% and machine learning inference workload performance by 60%.

New Generation GPU Design: ARM showcased a new generation of GPU designs in 2023, including the flagship Cortex-X4 core, mid-core Cortex-A720, little core Cortex-A520, and the new generation GPU Immortalis-G720. These new designs are based on the Armv9 and its previous Total Compute Solutions (TCS21/22) ecosystem, aiming to provide higher efficiency and performance.

AI Processor Market: ARM's new GPUs will adopt Neoverse technology, designed specifically for complex AI processing operations in data centers and end devices. ARM's team is also responsible for developing GPU components and software interfaces, such as Vulkan and OpenGL, and collaborating with emerging AI chip companies.

Collaboration with NVIDIA: ARM collaborates with NVIDIA to bring RTX technology to Arm architecture, demonstrating the capability to achieve real-time ray tracing and DLSS technology on Arm.

ARM's Mali GPU Series Cores

ARM's Mali GPU series is designed specifically for platforms such as mobile devices, digital TVs, and automotive systems, offering excellent energy efficiency and high scalability to meet the needs of the entry-level to high-end markets. After years of development, the Mali GPU series has introduced multiple architectures, including Utgard, Midgard, Bifrost, and Valhall, each bringing significant improvements in performance and efficiency. With technological advancements, Mali GPUs continue to evolve, supporting more advanced graphic processing technologies, such as ray tracing and super-resolution, to provide users with a richer and smoother visual experience.

Rockchip RK Series

Rockchip's RK series chips widely adopt ARM architecture CPUs and GPUs to provide high-performance and energy-efficient solutions.

ARM CPU Cores: Rockchip's RK series chips typically integrate ARM Cortex series CPU cores, such as Cortex-A7, Cortex-A53, Cortex-A55, Cortex-A73, etc., offering different levels of performance and energy efficiency suitable for applications from entry-level to high-end.

ARM Mali GPU: The GPUs in RK series chips mostly adopt ARM's Mali series graphics processors, such as Mali-400, Mali-450, Mali-T860, Mali-G52, Mali-G76, etc., providing powerful graphic rendering capabilities to meet the demands of multimedia, gaming, and 3D graphic processing.

Multi-core Processor Design: Rockchip's SoC (System on Chip) often features a multi-core CPU design, combining ARM's big.LITTLE technology, pairing high-performance cores with high-efficiency cores to achieve optimal performance and minimal power consumption under different loads.

Integration: RK series chips are highly integrated, potentially including memory controllers, video codecs, display interfaces, and various communication interfaces, providing comprehensive hardware support for mobile devices and embedded systems.

Application Fields: Rockchip's RK series chips are widely used in smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, digital media players, in-vehicle infotainment systems, IoT devices, and more.

Technical Support and Ecosystem: As a user of ARM architecture, Rockchip can leverage ARM's extensive ecosystem and development tools, providing its customers with abundant software support and development resources.