I don’t think ARM based hardware makes much sense for a desktop, even a mini PC. There are plenty of x86 based mini PCs that are doing just fine. But, ARM based makes so, so much more sense for mobile devices, and just anything that runs on a battery, like a laptop. I would love to see an ARM based Steam deck, for instance. Sure, it wouldn’t necessarily be as powerful, but it would be lighter, quieter, and the battery life would be much better.
Bad power efficiency of x86 is more a tuning choice than an architecture one. However, the Van Gogh APU is quite efficient for its age. It’s just old.
…And you could just power cap it if you want more battery life for less performance.
AMD currently doesn’t offer anything else like the Steam Deck APU (as they canceled that APU silicon line), but if they do again, it would be very efficient heavily throttled. More efficient than new ARM SoCs (which would have to run at higher clocks/voltages for the same performance).
I don’t think ARM based hardware makes much sense for a desktop, even a mini PC. There are plenty of x86 based mini PCs that are doing just fine. But, ARM based makes so, so much more sense for mobile devices, and just anything that runs on a battery, like a laptop. I would love to see an ARM based Steam deck, for instance. Sure, it wouldn’t necessarily be as powerful, but it would be lighter, quieter, and the battery life would be much better.
Bad power efficiency of x86 is more a tuning choice than an architecture one. However, the Van Gogh APU is quite efficient for its age. It’s just old.
…And you could just power cap it if you want more battery life for less performance.
AMD currently doesn’t offer anything else like the Steam Deck APU (as they canceled that APU silicon line), but if they do again, it would be very efficient heavily throttled. More efficient than new ARM SoCs (which would have to run at higher clocks/voltages for the same performance).