Mobile and media consumption device markets contributed for the hybridisation trend
Hybrid processors that include two or more different types of cores make up half of the $111bn processor market revenue, according to a new report by IMS Research.
Key processors involved the combined central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU) unveiled by both Intel and AMD in 2010.
The research firm revealed hybridisation has eliminated the market for the integrated graphics chipset, though the GPU market is expected to continue thriving at estimated revenue rate of 4.1% from 2011- 2016.
IMS Research semiconductors research manager Tom Hackenberg said through the last decade the mobile and media consumption device markets have been pivotal for this hybridisation trend; Apple, Broadcom, Marvell, MediaTek, NVidia, Qualcomm, Samsung, St Ericsson, Texas Instruments and many other processor vendors have been offering heterogeneous application-specific processors with a microprocessor core integrating a GPU to add value within extremely confined parameters of space, power and cost.
Hybridised application specific mobile processors would represent the next largest class of processor by revenue, as smartphone sales exceed computers, and tablets penetrate in the market.
Hybrid applications processor growth in smartphones and tablets are predicted to grow at a rate of 10% and 14% from 2011 to 2016, respectively.
"With double digit revenue growth in these markets, it's not surprising to see major processor vendors such as AMD and Intel adopting this strategy to compete for computer market share and expending increasing research and development on embedded solutions," added Hackenberg.
IMS Research has identified nearly 20 processor vendors that now offer heterogeneous processing applications on a single chip, that can offer better system level performance and processor value.
Among configurable processors, vendors including Xilinx, Altera, Microsemi and Cypress Semiconductor are focusing on SoC ecosystems with an embedded processor core identical to applications processor or microcontroller.
IMS noted if processor suppliers are going to continue meeting performance expectations set by Moore's Law, future processors may be less marketable by their top-end frequency and more by their application specific cores.
