In addition to all the features of a central processing unit (CPU), it adds more and more system-level functions and acceleration modules such as graphics, video and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) applications, not only for personal computers, Servers and mainframe computers, it can also be used for embedded processing of various systems such as network devices, computer peripherals, medical and industrial equipment, automobiles, TVs, set-top boxes, video game consoles, wearable products and IoT applications Wait.
The latest McClean Report from IC Insights points out that the fastest growing microprocessor types in the past five years are mobile SoCs for tablets and data-enabled cell phones and MPUs for embedded applications.
The McClean report also predicts that computer processors (standard PCs, servers, mainframe computers) will account for 52% by 2018, embedded processors by about 16%, tablets with 4% market share for mobile application processors, and mobile handsets Application processor accounted for 28% It is estimated that by 2018 more than 50% of microprocessors will come from Intel and its rival AMD sold X86 architecture products.
Between 2010 and 2014, SoCs in mobile phones and tablets are the main growth drivers for microprocessors, but both have slowed down since 2015. Market saturation and smartphones Market maturities have slowed the growth of handset applications processors, which have seen flat shipments of handset applications processors in 2016 and 2017 and are expected to grow only 0.3% by 2018 and reach a record high of 1.8 billion this year.
Microprocessor business continues to be dominated by Intel, the world's largest chip maker, with 75% of the world's microprocessor market dominated by Intel over the past decade, but due to the strong growth of ARM-based SoC processors in handsets and tablets, Intel's market share dropped to as low as 60% .In the past, Intel's huge microprocessor business for personal computers, only one competitor AMD, but now with the rise of smartphones and tablet PCs in a variety of applications, Intel has entered the ' After the PC era ', competitors also increased significantly.
AMD will continue to aggressively attack the x86 server market in 2018 with the introduction of the company's new highly-parallel Zenith architecture MPU, and Intel will also introduce the Xeon 64-bit X86 processor to address these challenges. Machine-learning AI processors and coprocessors in applications such as servers, personal computing platforms, smartphones and embedded processing.
In addition, the McClean report shows that the overall MPU market slowed down in 2018 with 4% growth in 2018 to reach 74.5 billion U.S. dollars, up from 5% in 2017 and 9% in 2016. From 2018 to 2022, MPU sales With a compound annual growth rate of 3.4%. On the shipping side, it is estimated that the microprocessor shipments in 2016 will reach 2.6 billion units, up 2% over the same period of last year. From 2018 to 2022, the overall MPU shipments will grow at a compound annual growth rate Was 2.1%.