One Architecture Countless Possibilities
Arm architecture ensures better security, wide compatibility, high performance, and energy efficiency. Our central processor unit (CPU) architecture comes in three varieties optimized for different use cases: A-Profile for rich applications, R-Profile for Real-time, and M-Profile for microcontrollers.
CPU Architecture defines what a CPU must do when software runs on it. All Arm-based CPU designs are built on the same architecture, ensuring software compatibility while enabling market or usage-specific innovation. This compatibility ensures partner success, increasing customer confidence and market uptake.
Armv8.1-M is the latest M-Profile architecture and it includes Arm Helium technology, the M-Profile Vector Extension (MVE) for the Arm Cortex-M series. Helium delivers a significant performance uplift for machine learning (ML) and digital signal processing (DSP) applications.
Armv8-R is the latest R-Profile architecture and supports Arm Neon technology, an advanced Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture extension for the Arm Cortex-A and Cortex-R series processors.
CPU Architecture Profiles
A-Profile
Optimized for Rich Applications and High-Performance Operating Systems
A-Profile is used in complex compute applications including servers, mobile phones, automotive head units and IoT gateways.
R-Profile
Optimized for Real-Time, High-Performance Applications
R-Profile is used where real-time or deterministic response is required, such as safety-critical applications. Use cases include medical equipment and transport, specifically in vehicle steering, braking and signalling functions.
M-Profile
Optimized for Discrete Processing and Microcontrollers
M-Profile is used where energy efficiency, power conservation, and size are key. It is especially suitable for invisible and deeply-embedded chips, such as smart goods. IoT devices are a key application of M-Profile CPUs, used in small sensors, communication modules, and smart home products.
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Explore More Options and Features
Silicon IP: CPU
Arm CPU processors offer the widest range of processor cores to address the performance, power and cost requirements for almost all application markets. Including the industry leading Cortex-A series, the ultra-low power Cortex-M series, real-time Cortex-R series, server ready Neoverse series, SecurCore series and Machine Learning solutions.
Silicon IP: Graphics and Multimedia
Arm Mali media IP offer high-performing, energy-efficient media processing across a large and growing number of mobile and consumer devices, including smartphones, tablets, TVs and wearables.
Architectures and Technologies
Arm-based chips, technologies and platform design architectures orchestrate the performance of everything that makes modern life possible — from smartphones to agricultural sensors, medical equipment to cloud data centers.
Platform Security Architecture
The Platform Security Architecture (PSA) is a common industry framework for IoT devices. PSA helps developers define a consistent level of security by providing principles and deliverables, including threat models, architecture specifications and open source firmware. A key security goal outlined in PSA is isolation—exactly where Arm TrustZone provides a perfect implementation.
System Architecture
Arm system architectures cover hardware, firmware, and software and provide standardization and best practice guidance. This helps reduce costs and time to market when designing your system.
Custom Instructions
Arm Custom Instructions support the intelligent and rapid development of fully integrated custom CPU instructions. This enables a new level of workload-specific optimization and increases flexibility while maintaining a coherent software development environment at no additional cost.
CPU Architecture Resources
Everything you need to know to make the right decision for your project. Includes technical documentation, industry insights, and where to go for expert advice.