The ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) architecture is a family of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) architectures for computer processors. Developed by Arm Holdings, it has become the most pervasive processor architecture globally, found in a vast range of devices from tiny sensors and wearables to smartphones, tablets, embedded systems, and increasingly, servers and even some laptops.
| Feature | MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages) | ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) |
|---|---|---|
| Instruction Set | Primarily 32-bit fixed length, load-store architecture | Variable length (mostly 32-bit, with 16-bit Thumb) |
| Instruction Format | Fewer formats (R, I, J types) | More complex and numerous formats |
| Registers | 32 general-purpose registers | Up to 32 general-purpose registers (32-bit or 64-bit) |
| Addressing Modes | Simpler addressing modes | More complex and flexible addressing modes |
| Execution | Focus on single-cycle execution for most instructions | Emphasis on low power consumption and efficiency |
| Branching | Delayed branches | Conditional execution of many instructions |
| Data Alignment | Strict data alignment requirements | More flexible data alignment |
| Endianness | Configurable (Big or Little Endian) | Bi-endian (configurable, often Little Endian by default) |
| History & Usage | Historically used in embedded systems, networking, workstations; popular for teaching RISC concepts | Dominant in mobile devices, embedded systems, and increasingly in servers and desktops |
| SIMD Extensions | MIPS-3D, MDMX | NEON, SVE, SVE2 |
| Power Consumption | Generally higher | Generally lower |
| Complexity | Simpler instruction set and architecture | More complex instruction set and architecture |