x86 is Dead! Long Live ARM!

Accessed via Wiki Media, By highwycombe (talk) - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=105358158

(LISBON, PORTUGAL) — It was the 29th of May, at approximately 4:00 p.m. UTC. Microsoft, Nvidia, and several other accounts posted the same message on Twitter, currently known as X : “A new era of PC. 25.0528, 121.5990.” Due to its cryptic nature, the message quickly sparked rumours and speculation.

That was, most definitely, precisely the intended outcome of their respective marketing teams, and it worked. Several friends of mine, including some with no interest in computers, suddenly began asking me what it meant. I recall that one of them even asked, “What do you think this means?” and I unknowingly replied, “I think they’re launching CPUs.” Surprisingly, I was right.

At the event, held at the very coordinates referenced in the post, Nvidia appeared with its CEO, Jensen Huang, who introduced the company’s latest product: the RTX Spark. This is an ARM-based chip developed in partnership with MediaTek.

To most people, this may sound like just another computer chip that performs the same functions as any other. However, the real significance lies somewhere else. Importantly, the fact that it is ARM-based may be a strong indication of where the wider market is heading.

To understand why this matters, it is useful to begin with some background. Most computers in use today still rely on what is commonly known as x86 architecture, more specifically x86-64, often referred to, somewhat erroneously, as simply “64-bit”.

By contrast, most smartphones, tablets (and some computers, I'll get there) use ARM architecture. x86 is built on a complex set of patents and technologies controlled primarily by AMD and Intel. These technologies are so interconnected that both companies are required to license elements to one another. ARM, by contrast, is owned by Arm, a singular institution that designs the architecture and licenses it to manufacturers that wish to build chips based on it.

A typical x86-based system includes three essential components: the CPU, the GPU, and RAM. The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, functions as the computer’s primary processor. It handles most background operations and processes data.

The GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, is responsible for rendering what appears on screen, from moving windows to graphical effects in video games. RAM, or Random Access Memory, serves as the system’s short-term memory, temporarily storing the information needed for active tasks, such as browser tabs or open applications. These components are then integrated into a motherboard, where they work together as a complete computing system.

Understanding this conventional structure is important because ARM systems are designed differently. In many ARM-based devices, the CPU, GPU, and memory are integrated far more closely into a single unit. Rather than relying on separate, easily replaceable components, ARM systems often use what is known as a system-on-a-chip. In this model, the processor forms part of a broader, tightly integrated system.

As a result, ARM devices are typically lighter, more power-efficient, and more cost-effective. This is one of the key reasons why ARM has long dominated the smartphone and tablet markets, where portability and battery life are especially important.

For some time, ARM has been viewed as a possible alternative for laptops and desktops, but widespread adoption was still very limited. x86 had decades of legacy support behind it, along with a vast ecosystem of software and development tools. Windows and macOS were both historically associated with x86, and migrating to ARM seemed like a major leap.

Until one day, Apple made that leap decisively with the introduction of its M-series chips. In doing so, it transformed its product line with systems that were compact, battery-efficient, and exceptionally fast (also cheaper). Almost overnight, software compatibility began to look like a manageable challenge rather than an insurmountable barrier.

That shift forced the rest of the market to respond. Apple had clearly been preparing this transition for years and, in many respects, caught the wider industry off guard. Major technology companies were compelled to accelerate their own ARM strategies, while also addressing the substantial software compatibility gap.

Apple held a distinct advantage: it controlled both hardware and software and had already secured support from major software providers such as Adobe and Autodesk. All of this just proved a successful adoption of ARM, which demonstrated that x86 could not necessarily remain the default forever.

This brings us back to 29 May, when Nvidia announced its own apparent answer to Apple’s M-series chips: the RTX Spark. Like Apple’s processors, these chips are ARM-based, energy-efficient, and high-performing. More importantly, they are positioned as capable of running Windows applications effectively. If that promise is fulfilled, software compatibility ceases to be the obstacle it once was.

Microsoft appears to have made significant progress in narrowing the gap, making ARM increasingly viable as a mainstream computing platform. At the same time, Valve, the company behind Steam, has reportedly been working on its own ARM compatibility layer for gaming. This further reinforces the idea that ARM is no longer fundamentally constrained by software written for x86. Instead, it may soon be able to run many of those applications with little meaningful compromise, or any at all.

Taken together, these developments do signal a long-term decline in x86’s dominance. That does not mean x86 will disappear overnight. In fact, such a transition could take 10 to 20 years. Nor does it mean x86 no longer has a role.

It remains relevant for enthusiasts, specialized workloads and users who value modularity, repairability and long-term hardware flexibility. Because x86 systems are typically less integrated, they are often easier to upgrade and maintain over time. Even so, ARM’s momentum is difficult to ignore.

It is already the standard for mobile devices and is becoming increasingly credible in desktop and laptop environments. As Apple has shown, ARM can deliver excellent performance while reducing power consumption and simplifying system design. It can also be produced more efficiently, with fewer separate components.

So perhaps it is too dramatic to say that x86 is dead. More accurately, I could probably just say: x86 isn't dead yet, but ARM increasingly looks more alive.