Migrating from PowerPC* to Intel® Architecture

Techniques and tools help you get on the Intel roadmap.

There are multiple paths available to migrate embedded solutions from PowerPC* to Intel® architecture. No single approach fits every case. This site provides useful migration planning information, a list of technical issues to consider, code examples, case studies and other development resources.

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Why Migrate to Intel® Architecture (IA)?

Embedded Intel architecture is the established leader in computing performance and innovation. Intel consistently offers a competitive roadmap of embedded products optimized for power-efficient performance and value and backed by Intel’s 7-year lifecycle support.

In addition, Intel works within the embedded industry to drive standards-based platforms and enable manufacturers to develop standards-based, open-architecture embedded computing solutions.

Higher Performance

Current PowerPC* platforms underperform Intel® Xeon® processor-based solutions on the majority of workloads.

Why Migrate from PowerPC*

Learn more about key reasons to migrate from PowerPC* to embedded Intel® architecture including lower cost of ownership, increased performance, and IT standardization.

File Type/Size: PDF 6,180KB

Version: May 2009

Standardized IT Environment

Platforms based on Intel architecture enable you to simplify and standardize the IT environment and select from a broad range of industry standards-based platform solutions from multiple OEMs. PowerPC*’s proprietary architecture lacks this flexibility. Platform choices from multiple vendors provide to the broadest range of innovative capabilities. In addition, Intel supports multiple operating system environments, while PowerPC*’s proprietary architecture generally supports just one operating system.

Migrating from PowerPC* to Intel® Architecture

Intel consistently offers a competitive roadmap of embedded products optimized for performance, power and value.
White Paper: Intel® Atom™ Processor Performance for DSP Applications

This report from N.A. Software* compares the performance of N series and Z series Intel® Atom™ processors with other embedded processors in DSP applications.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Because PowerPC*-based platforms are typically more expensive than platforms based on Intel architecture, developers can reduce expenses by migrating their solutions. Cost savings include reduced capital and operating expenses and overall lower TCO.

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