ARM sets sights on Intel with new 2GHz chips

British chip designer ARM has rolled out plans for a dual core version of its Cortex-A9 processor which will run at speeds of 2GHz or more.

The chip, codenamed Osprey, is being billed as an Atom killer.

This marks a distinct change in direction for the company, as the processor is optimised for speed rather than power saving.

However, a second more power conscious implementation of the chip will be made available, running at the 800MHz mark; so ARM partners will be given a choice between speed and power.

Eric Schorn, Vice President of Marketing in the processor division, called the move a “huge departure from what we’ve done in the past”, and added that “the goal is performance, performance, performance.”

ARM, already successful in the mobile market, will be looking to unlock new pastures with the Osprey, such as netbooks, smartbooks, and consumer electronics such as televisions.