Design Philosophy

  • x86_64:

    • CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing): Many complex instructions.

    • Focus: High performance for demanding workloads (e.g., gaming, servers).

    • Backward-compatible with older 32-bit x86 software.

  • ARM64:

    • RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing): Simpler, optimized instructions.

    • Focus: Power efficiency (ideal for mobile, IoT, and battery-powered devices).

    • Modern ARM chips (e.g., Apple M-series) now rival x86 in performance.

 

Use Cases

  • x86_64 Dominates:

    • Desktop/laptop PCs (Windows, Linux).

    • Servers, data centers, supercomputers.

    • Legacy enterprise software.

  • ARM64 Dominates:

    • Smartphones/tablets (iOS, Android).

    • Embedded systems (IoT, Raspberry Pi).

    • Modern laptops (Apple Silicon Macs, Chromebooks).

    • Cloud servers (AWS Graviton, Ampere Altra).

Which to Choose?

  • x86_64: For raw power, legacy apps, or Windows/Linux PCs.

  • ARM64: For efficiency, mobile devices, or modern laptops like MacBooks.

Example Chips

  • x86_64: Intel Core i9, AMD Ryzen 9.

  • ARM64: Apple M2, Qualcomm Snapdragon, AWS Graviton3.


Performance & Efficiency