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What is the Difference Between ARM and FPGA Processors?

Introduction

ARM and FPGA are two very different types of processors used for a wide range of applications.
Understanding the key differences between these architectures is important when selecting the right
processor for a given application.

This article will provide an overview of ARM and FPGA processors, compare their architectures and
performance attributes, analyze their programming approaches, and highlight suitable applications for each
technology. Key differences will be summarized in tables throughout the article.

ARM Processors Overview

ARM processors are 32-bit and 64-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) CPUs that are designed for
low cost and power efficiency. ARM cores are extremely popular in mobile and embedded devices due to
their minimalist, power-optimized architecture.

Some key attributes of ARM processors:

 RISC architecture with simpler instructions that execute in single clock cycles
 Fixed hardware logic and execution pipelines
 Excellent energy efficiency and low heat dissipation
 Scalable performance from microcontrollers to application processors
 Available as standardized cores licensed to many vendors
 Requires software development in C/C++ or Assembly

ARM cores are used in billions of devices including smartphones, tablets, microcontrollers, and other
embedded systems. Leading vendors like Qualcomm, Samsung, Nvidia, AMD, and Apple design their own
ARM-based chips.

FPGA Processors Overview

FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) are integrated circuits that can be programmed and reconfigured
after manufacturing. This enables an FPGA to effectively morph into a custom computing device tailored for
each application.

Key attributes of FPGAs:

 Flexible fabric of logic blocks and routing that can be reconfigured

 Parallel processing architecture optimized for data flow applications
 Hardware level programmability using HDLs like Verilog or VHDL

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 High performance potential for parallel workloads

 Well suited for DSP, ML, image processing, etc
 Widely used for hardware acceleration and prototyping

While not as ubiquitous as ARM chips, FPGAs are popular for niche applications requiring custom
hardware-level optimization and processing.

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Architecture Comparison

ARM and FPGA processors have fundamental differences in their architecture and implementation:

Parameter ARM Processor FPGA

Design Philosophy RISC fixed architecture Reconfigurable fabric
Processing Sequential von Neumann Parallel dataflow
Approach
Execution Logic Fixed pipelines and data Reprogrammable logic blocks
paths + routing
Hardware None, fixed function Highly flexible,
Flexibility customizable logic
Software High, can run different OS Limited without HW changes
Flexibility & apps
Performance Predictable Application dependent
Attributes
Programming C/C++, Assembly HDL (Verilog/VHDL)
Development Software algorithms Hardware logic synthesis
Approach
This table summarizes the key architectural differences between the two technologies:

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RISC vs Reconfigurable Logic Architecture

The core design philosophy behind ARM and FPGA processors are completely different. The RISC
architecture used in ARM chips has fixed hardware logic blocks tuned for efficiency in executing software
instructions. In contrast, FPGAs contain a flexible fabric of logic blocks with programmable interconnects
that can be rewired as needed.

Sequential vs Parallel Processing

ARM uses a classic sequential von Neumann architecture where instructions are executed one after another.
FPGAs employ a dataflow architecture that processes data in parallel through customized pipelines. Multiple
operations can occur simultaneously.

Fixed Pipelines vs Reconfigurable Logic

ARM processors rely on hardwired logic blocks and execution pipelines tailored for RISC instructions. With
FPGAs, any hardware function can be synthesized using the basic logic elements, letting you customize data
paths and control logic.

Software vs Hardware Flexibility

ARM processors are software-flexible – different operating systems and applications can run on the same
ARM core. FPGAs are the opposite – they are hardware-flexible and must be physically reprogrammed for
new functions, but software is largely fixed.

This contrast in fundamental architecture leads to major differences in performance, programming, and use
cases.

Performance Comparison

Both ARM and FPGA offer excellent performance, but in very different ways:

Performance Attribute ARM Processor FPGA

Processing Style Sequential Parallel
Clock Speeds Up to ~3 GHz Typically 100-400 MHz
Latency 10s – 100s of cycles Single cycle throughput
Throughput Gigabytes/sec Terabytes/sec potential
Performance Scale Up to multicore CPUs 10X-100X speedups possible
Power Efficiency Excellent Configurable for efficiency

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Performance Attribute ARM Processor FPGA

Cost Efficiency Low cost per unit High development costs
Let’s analyze the key performance differences:

Sequential vs Parallel Execution

The von Neumann nature of ARM processors means they execute operations sequentially, albeit with some
instruction parallelism via pipelines. FPGAs process data simultaneously in customized parallel pipelines,
enabling much higher throughput. However, latency is lower on ARM cores.

Clock Speed Differences

ARM cores reach clock speeds up to around 3 GHz today by optimizing critical paths for fast sequential
execution. FPGAs typically run at 100-400 MHz but make up for lower clocks through massive parallelism.

Throughput and Latency

ARM processors can complete single operations faster due to higher clocks (latency in 10s-100s of cycles).
However, FPGA throughput for highly parallel tasks like encryption or image processing can be orders of
magnitude higher (terabytes/sec).

Performance Scalability

ARM scales well to multicore CPUs with shared memory access. FPGAs can provide 10X-100X speedups
for parallel workloads by customizing logic, but single thread performance lags.

Power and Cost Efficiency

ARM excels at power efficiency for mobile devices with clock gating and power management features.
FPGAs can also be tuned for power efficiency but higher performance comes at a cost premium, while ARM
chips leverage economies of scale.

For the right applications, FPGAs can significantly outperform ARM processors. But ARM remains superior
for general purpose computing and single-threaded tasks.

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Programming Model Comparison

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ARM and FPGAs have completely different programming methodologies:

Programming ARM FPGA

Attribute
Primary Languages C/C++, Assembly Verilog, VHDL (HDLs)
Abstraction Level Software algorithms Hardware logic
Device Learning Not required Must learn FPGA fabric
Programming Approach Procedural, Concurrent, parallel
sequential
Debugging Software debugging Hardware verification
Optimization Compiler Logic synthesis optimization
optimizations
Some key aspects:

Software vs Hardware Languages

ARM processors are programmed using software languages like C/C++ and Assembly to implement
algorithms. FPGAs require hardware description languages (HDLs) like Verilog and VHDL that
describe digital logic gates and connections.

Abstraction from Hardware

Software programmers can develop code without knowledge of the underlying processor. With FPGAs, you
must understand the low-level fabric in order to synthesize logic that maps efficiently.

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Programming Paradigm

ARM code is written procedurally with sequential instructions. FPGA logic must be designed concurrently
with parallel data flows in mind. Different mental models are required.

Debugging and Optimization

Software debugging tools are more mature. FPGA optimization relies heavily on the synthesis tool mapping
designs to the underlying hardware as efficiently as possible.

FPGA programming has a much steeper learning curve but enables hardware-level customization. ARM
programming is more accessible thanks to abundant software resources.

Use Case Comparison

Given their differing attributes, ARM and FPGAs are suited for very different applications:

Use Cases ARM Processors FPGAs

Mobile devices Excellent fit Not suitable
Embedded systems Widely used Overkill for most
IoT endpoints Well suited Premium use cases
Cloud acceleration Limited suitability Excellent fit
DSP algorithms Capable for many apps Higher performance possible
Computer vision Often sufficient More demanding apps benefit
Autonomous vehicles Generally not used Critical for some subsystems
Here are some typical use cases that favor ARM or FPGAs:

Mobile Devices

ARM processors are designed for mobile applications where low power draw is critical. FPGAs are overkill
for smartphones and tablets due to cost and power constraints.

Embedded Systems

ARM MCUs and application processors power most embedded electronics like home appliances, sensors,
industrial, etc. FPGAs are usually too expensive for mainstream embedded use.

IoT Endpoints

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ARM Cortex M class MCUs feature in most IoT endpoint designs. Some higher performance IoT
applications utilize FPGAs where ML acceleration is required locally.

Cloud Acceleration

FPGAs are widely used to accelerate computationally intensive tasks in data centers by customizing parallel
pipelines. ARM servers have limited suitability currently.

Computer Vision

Lower resolution computer vision runs well on ARM chips. But FPGA acceleration becomes important for
higher resolution or when deep learning algorithms are used.

Autonomous Vehicles

ARM processors typically do not have the performance for autonomous vehicle subsystems. FPGAs are
critical for sensor fusion, perception, and decision making.

For any given application, the tradeoffs between these technologies must be carefully evaluated when
selecting a processing platform.

Conclusion

ARM and FPGA processors have fundamental differences in architecture, programming, performance
attributes, and typical applications.

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Key Takeaways:

 ARM processors feature a RISC architecture optimized for low cost and power efficiency. FPGAs
provide a flexible fabric of logic blocks that can be reconfigured.
 ARM uses a sequential von Neumann architecture while FPGAs leverage parallel dataflow
processing.
 FPGAs can accelerate suitable parallel workloads by 10X-100X but have a steep development
curve. ARM offers broadly accessible software-based programming.
 ARM excels in mobile and embedded devices. FPGAs are used where custom hardware
acceleration is critical.

Understanding these complementary technologies is important when architecting systems. With their
respective strengths, ARM and FPGAs will continue powering many of the world’s electronic devices into
the foreseeable future.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between ARM and FPGA architectures?

ARM uses fixed RISC processor cores while FPGAs provide reconfigurable logic fabrics. ARM has a
sequential von Neumann architecture whereas FPGAs use a parallel dataflow architecture.

When is ARM processors the best choice over FPGA?

ARM processors are superior for mobile applications, embedded systems, and general purpose computing
where low cost and power efficiency are critical. Their software programmability is also more accessible.

When is FPGA the right choice over ARM processors?

FPGAs are chosen for applications requiring custom hardware acceleration and parallel processing. They
excel in cloud acceleration, high performance DSP and computer vision algorithms, and critical autonomy
systems.

Can ARM processors be reconfigured like FPGAs?

No, ARM processors have fixed architecture and cannot be reconfigured at the hardware level. FPGAs can
be reprogrammed even after manufacturing to morph into customized accelerators.

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Do FPGAs completely replace ARM processors?

No, FPGAs complement rather than replace ARM processors in most systems. ARM CPUs are still used to
execute control, I/O and application layer software alongside FPGA acceleration. The technologies have
different strengths.

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3. ASIC vs. ASSP vs. SoC vs. FPGA – What’s the Difference?

4. What is Difference Between FT600 and FT601 Evaluation FPGA Board ?

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