Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Arm’s pitch in AI and high-performance computing (HPC) is about designing a data-center system around its workloads, not simply choosing a processor. At Mobile World Congress (MWC) in March 2025, Arm executive Mohamed Awad described how licensed Arm technology, software and hardware partners, and integrated compute designs could support customers building custom silicon. In March 2026, Arm announced its first Arm-designed production data-center CPU, turning a possibility raised in the earlier interview into a company-announced product.
Why data-center operators are thinking in systems
In Pablo Valerio’s March 10, 2025, EE Times report from MWC in Barcelona, Awad described growing interest among large infrastructure operators in silicon tailored to their data centers. The aim, as he presented it, is to coordinate the design of CPUs, accelerators and networking rather than assemble a system entirely from off-the-shelf parts.
“There’s this clear desire to move away from building your data center around off-the-shelf silicon, but rather, building your silicon to the specific of your data center,” Awad said in the interview. His wording captures the shift: the design target is the whole workload and infrastructure, not one chip in isolation.
Awad cited Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell as an example of a CPU designed to complement a GPU accelerator, and named AWS, Google and Microsoft among hyperscalers pursuing custom silicon. Those are examples from his interview, not an independent comparison of products or evidence that custom designs always outperform standard parts.
#1 Best Overall
- 3 Mounting Options - This space saving mini PC mount conveniently secures your thin client or docking station to the back of your computer monitor, clamped to a monitor mount pole (diameter of 3 cm to 4.1 cm), or installed under your desk (at least 1.6 cm in thickness). Fits VESA mounts 75x75mm and 100x100mm.
- Adjustable Width - The solid bracket features 1.8 cm to 7.1 cm of adjustable width and is designed for Intel NUC models (power button must be on the side of the device), Chromebox, Mac Mini, small CPU's, thin clients, USB 3.0 docking stations, USB hubs, Lenovo Tiny Series, Dell OptiPlex Micro, HP ProDesk Mini, and more.
- Sturdy 5 kg Support - Made of solid steel with a powder coated finish for rust prevention, this CPU holder supports up to 5 kg of weight. Adjustable straps keep your device from sliding and rubber pads protect your equipment from scratches.
- Easy Installation - All necessary hardware and instructions are provided for the 3 types of installation methods. Each mounting option gives you unrestricted access to your thin client with an open-frame design for optimal ventilation.
- We've Got You Covered - This product comes with a limited 3-year Manufacturer Warranty, as well as friendly tech support to help with any questions or concerns.
What Arm offered in the 2025 interview
Awad described Arm’s position as resting on established technology, a hardware and software ecosystem, and licensing arrangements that let customers modify and optimize designs for their systems. The model gives customers a way to build around Arm technology without requiring every company to start with the same finished processor.
Integrated compute subsystems
Arm was also offering more integrated compute subsystems. Awad explained the idea with an analogy: “Now we put the engine and the transmission together for you, and we hand that to you, and now you can build pieces around it to get to where you want to go.” That is an explanation of the approach, not a technical specification for a particular product.
Rank #2
- All-in-One Enterprise Data Server : The ROSE Data Server combines high-performance networking, enterprise storage, and compute capabilities in a single 1U rackmount platform. Designed for data centers, enterprise IT infrastructure, and high-performance environments that require scalable storage and ultra-fast networking.
- Massive NVMe Storage Capacity : Supports up to 20 U.2 NVMe SSD drives for high-density storage performance. Ideal for demanding workloads such as virtualization, database servers, backup repositories, and high-speed data processing.
- Ultra-Fast Multi-Gigabit Connectivity : Equipped with 2×100G QSFP28 ports, 4×25G SFP28 ports, 4×10G SFP+ ports, and 2×10G Ethernet ports, delivering exceptional bandwidth for data center interconnects, storage networks, and high-performance computing environments.
- Powerful 16-Core ARM Processor : Built with a 16-core 2 GHz ARM64 CPU and 32GB DDR4 RAM, providing strong processing power for routing, storage management, container workloads, and network virtualization.
- RouterOS ROSE Edition with Advanced Storage : Runs RouterOS v7 ROSE edition, enabling enterprise features such as RAID support, NVMe-over-TCP storage sharing, encryption layers, and Btrfs file system capabilities for snapshots, compression, and high data integrity.
Arm Total Design and industry partners
The EE Times report described Arm Total Design as an initiative intended to reduce design effort, improve time to market and make custom silicon more attainable. The article did not quantify savings or establish a return on investment. It also named Nokia, Samsung and Ericsson in the telecom infrastructure ecosystem, while Awad pointed to telecommunications and manufacturing as fields beyond hyperscale cloud where application-specific silicon could matter. The report did not detail particular chip designs or establish that every named relationship remains current.
When does designing a custom chip make sense?
Custom silicon is a substantial investment, not an automatic shortcut to lower costs or better performance. The economics depend partly on whether enough deployments can share the development expense. As Awad put it: “Building silicon is expensive. And so, you know, whether or not you can build your own silicon depends on whether you can effectively amortize the cost over the products you’re deploying.”
Rank #3
- Product Description:This Adjustable Thin Client Mini PC Stand is suitable for Mini PC, CPU, Thin Client. Also heavy duty steel construction provides extra strength and durability
- Compatibility: The stand supports devices up to 11 lbs(5 kg) and 75 x 75 and 100 x 100 mm VESA mounting patterns. 0.67"-2.8" (17-70 mm) width adjustment fits most device sizes and shapes
- Three Mounting Options: Its mounting ports attach to a variety of surfaces. You can mount the unit under a table, behind a monitor, or clip it to a pole to minimise clutter and save desk space
- Open Frame Design: Can help the device better ventilate and dissipate heat while providing unrestricted port access. Attached back strap for enhanced stability
- Easy Installation: All necessary components and installation manuals are included to help you set up quickly
Teresa Cervero, a research engineer at Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), added that more complex systems raise investment costs and the need for skilled staff. The 2025 report gives no minimum deployment scale, cost model or controlled performance comparison, so it cannot establish a universal point at which custom silicon pays off.
Questions to answer before committing
- Can enough deployments share the design cost? A chip intended for a broad, recurring fleet has a different cost-spreading opportunity from one for a small number of systems.
- Is there a workload-specific reason to customize? Identify the requirements that off-the-shelf silicon does not meet, such as how the system must coordinate compute and networking.
- Can the organization support the engineering effort? Account for design complexity and the skilled staff needed to build and maintain the system.
- What does the ecosystem provide? Consider the software and hardware support, time to market, and supply-chain access needed for the intended deployment.
These are decision factors, not a formula: the interview supplies no threshold or ranking that would make the choice for every company.
Rank #4
- Multifunctional Thin Client PC Mount: Our space-saving thin client CPU mount can be installed on the back of a freestanding monitor, between a monitor and VESA mount arm, or used as a freestanding holder on the desk. Fits 75x75mm and 100x100mm VESA mounts
- Compatibility: Holds up to 6.6 lbs and designed for Intel NUC models (power button must be on side of device), Chromebox, Mac Mini, small CPUs, thin clients, USB 3.0 docking stations, USB hubs, Lenovo Tiny Series, Dell OptiPlex Micro, HP ProDesk Mini, etc
- Adjustable Width: The solid bracket features 0.2” to 2.8” of adjustable width, allowing it to support a variety of devices. This space-saving mount is perfect for a wide range of needs
- Lightweight Design: Made of plastic and steel material to provide a lightweight hold for your mini PC. Non-slip silicone pads protect the exterior surface of the CPU and provide a solid hold
- Easy Installation: All hardware and instructions are provided for the 3 types of installation. Each mounting option gives you unrestricted access to your thin client with an open-frame design for optimal ventilation
How the report frames Arm and RISC-V
Cervero, who was described in the report as leading a BSC team working on European RISC-V initiatives, argued that demand for customization was encouraging heterogeneous systems and open silicon efforts. She said RISC-V allows more architectural exploration than Arm’s licensing model. That is her perspective in the interview, not a full technical or commercial comparison.
She summarized the motivation this way: “Innovation is crucial for differentiation and tackling efficiency challenges such as speed, performance, power consumption, and scalability.” The report does not provide benchmarks or compare Arm and RISC-V on performance, software support, cost, power consumption or ecosystem maturity.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallBest Value
- [RK3328 SBC & DDR4 RAM] Powered by Rockchip RK3328 Quad-core CPU and 1GB/2GB DDR4, providing high-performance computing in a 48x48mm tiny size for efficient IoT processing.
- [Gigabit Ethernet Mini Router] Features a Full-speed Gigabit Ethernet port with a Unique MAC Address, ensuring stable, high-speed data transfer and no IP conflicts for secure network applications.
- [USB 3.0 IoT Gateway] Equipped with USB 3.0 Type-A for 5Gbps fast data transmission, making it an ideal Open Source Gateway or mini-server for smart home automation and storage.
- [GPIO Programming & Header] Includes a 26-pin GPIO header (I2C, UART, SPI, I2S) and a 3-pin Serial Debug Port, offering a flexible development interface for rapid DIY prototyping and hardware integration.
- [Ubuntu & FriendlyWrt OS] Optimized for FriendlyWrt (OpenWrt) and Ubuntu Core, this ARM Development Board is ready for building custom soft routers, NAS, and edge computing nodes.
| Approach | What the report establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Off-the-shelf silicon | Awad described some operators as moving away from building data centers entirely around standard parts. | The report does not compare its cost, performance or suitability with custom designs. |
| Custom silicon using Arm technology | Awad described Arm licensing as allowing customers to modify and optimize designs, supported by an established ecosystem. | No benchmark, customer cost saving or return on investment is quantified. |
| RISC-V and open silicon initiatives | Cervero argued that RISC-V permits more architectural exploration. | No like-for-like results on performance, power, software support, cost or maturity are supplied. |
Arm’s move from licensing to a production data-center CPU
In the March 2025 interview, Awad did not confirm that Arm planned to design and sell its own server CPU. That historical answer changed in March 2026: Arm announced the Arm AGI CPU, describing it as its first Arm-designed production data-center CPU and a move from IP and compute subsystems into production silicon.
Arm named Meta as the lead partner and said other customers and leading original design manufacturers had committed for production. Those product and commitment details are Arm’s announcement; they are not independently verified outcomes. Arm also publicized performance comparisons, but those should be read as company claims tied to its stated configurations rather than independent test results.
What the 2025 comments say about supply chains and China
Awad described supply-chain conditions as unpredictable in the March 2025 interview and said partners wanted greater stability. He expressed interest in stability across foundries, naming Intel and Samsung alongside TSMC. These remarks are a snapshot of what he said at MWC in 2025, not a current assessment of foundry capacity or supply risk.
On China, Awad said Arm continued supporting Chinese partners through Arm China and operated within applicable laws and regulations. That is his account from the interview; the article did not analyze export-control rules or establish which Arm intellectual property is currently available in China. It should not be treated as legal guidance.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat the MWC discussion means for companies
The central point is not that every data-center operator should design a chip. It is that custom silicon has become part of a broader infrastructure-design discussion: operators may want CPUs, accelerators and networking to fit a particular system, while Arm’s 2025 pitch emphasized licensing, ecosystem support and more integrated designs as ways to participate. Scale, engineering capacity and ecosystem fit remain practical constraints, and the interview did not rank Arm, RISC-V and off-the-shelf options. Arm’s 2026 AGI CPU announcement adds a new chapter, but the company’s product claims and customer commitments should remain attributed to Arm.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
