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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 →AMD announced Project SkyBridge in 2014 as a planned family of pin-compatible ARM and x86 processors, but removed it from its roadmap in 2015. The project was effectively cancelled before a documented retail processor, board, or development kit reached buyers. AMD said customers did not need ARM and x86 parts that shared a socket; reporting at the time also pointed to the weak economics and performance of the 20 nm process.
What AMD planned to build
SkyBridge was a design framework for 20 nm APUs and systems-on-chip (SoCs), which combine processor functions and other components on one chip. AMD described the family as intended to make ARM and x86 processors pin-compatible: different processor designs would fit the same platform connection. The company expected the framework to become available starting in 2015, but that was a plan, not a product launch.
| Planned variant | Processor architecture | Planned software and market details |
|---|---|---|
| ARM | ARM Cortex-A57 | Android support; intended for client and embedded markets, not positioned as a server platform. |
| x86 | Next-generation Puma+ cores | Part of the same pin-compatible framework for client and embedded markets. |
AMD’s 2014 announcement also described integrated Graphics Core Next technology, support for Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), and a dedicated Platform Security Processor. Those capabilities were part of the announced design, not evidence that a finished SkyBridge chip shipped.
When and how SkyBridge was cancelled
At its 2015 Financial Analyst Day, AMD presented a tighter focus on high-performance, differentiated products and prioritized next-generation x86 technology. SkyBridge disappeared from the roadmap. AnandTech characterized the project as essentially cancelled, while AMD’s subsequent x86 roadmap for 2016–2017 also had no SkyBridge entry.
#1 Best Overall
- High-performance foundation line, ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP and FPU, 512 Kbytes Flash, 180 MHz CPU, ART Accelerator, Dual QSPI
- On-board ST-LINK/V2-1 debugger/programmer with SWD connector
- Can be powered from USB
- Three LEDs, Two Push-buttons
- Support of wide choice of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) including IAR, ARM Keil, GCC-based IDEs
“Officially dead” is a fair shorthand for the outcome, but the public record is more precise: AMD’s strategy materials documented the change in direction, and contemporaneous reporting described the project as cancelled. AMD did not proceed with the announced 2015 availability.
Why AMD abandoned the shared-socket idea
Customers did not see a need for it
AMD CEO Lisa Su said customers had indicated they did not need socket-compatible ARM and x86 processors. PCWorld summarized the rationale: “But it turns out that customers didn’t care about socket-compatible ARM and x86 parts, Su said.” Without enough demand for one platform that could accept either architecture, the compatibility feature did not justify keeping the project as a priority.
Rank #2
- Ultra-low-power with FPU ARM Cortex-M4 MCU 80 MHz with 1 Mbyte Flash, LCD, USB OTG, DFSDM
- On-board ST-LINK/V2-1 debugger/programmer with SWD connector
- Can be powered from USB
- Three LEDs, Two Push-buttons
- Support of wide choice of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) including IAR, ARM Keil, GCC-based IDEs
The 20 nm process added pressure
AnandTech’s contemporaneous account also identified the generally poor performance of the 20 nm process as a contributing factor. The cancellation was therefore reported as a combination of limited customer interest and process concerns, rather than a single technical flaw publicly identified by AMD.
What happened to AMD’s ARM and x86 priorities
AMD redirected resources toward completing Zen, its next-generation x86 architecture, and pushed its separate K12 ARM effort back to 2017, according to 2015 reporting. SkyBridge and K12 were distinct efforts: SkyBridge was the proposed pin-compatible ARM/x86 platform, while K12 was AMD’s ARM architecture project. The shift signaled that AMD would prioritize differentiated product designs and Zen rather than continue the shared-socket strategy.
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Rank #3
Can you buy a SkyBridge processor or platform?
No documented retail SkyBridge processor, motherboard, development kit, or other project-specific physical product is identified in the available record. AMD announced a design framework and its planned features, then removed it from the roadmap before a documented retail launch. Generic Ryzen or EPYC processors, ARM chips, and ordinary motherboards are not SkyBridge products and should not be treated as substitutes.
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Best Value
- STM32F103C8T6 ARM STM32 minimum system development module.
- ST-Link V2 support the full range of STM32 SWD interface debugging, simple interface (including power supply), 4 line speed, stable work.
- Use the current smart phones of Mirco USB interface, easy to use, USB communication and power supply can be done.
- The board lead to all the I/O resources.Download with SWD debug interface, which requires a minimum of 3 wires to complete debug a download task
Rank #4
- Mainstream Mixed signals MCUs ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP and FPU, 512 Kbytes Flash, 72 MHz CPU, MPU, CCM, 12-bit ADC 5 MSPS, PGA, comparators
- On-board ST-LINK/V2-1 debugger/programmer with SWD connector
- Can be powered from USB.
- Three LEDs, Two Push-buttons
- Support of wide choice of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) including IAR, ARM Keil, GCC-based IDEs
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