Arm lays down the law with a blueprint to challenge x86's PC dominance

The spec, which is an extension of its broader Base System Architecture (BSA), sets out the hardware and firmware requirements to make Arm systems more predictable for operating systems, hypervisors, and other software.

At its heart, PC-BSA Level 1 demands that 64-bit processors be built on Armv8.1 or newer, the integration of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 for more secure hardware-backed features, System Memory Management Unit (SMMU) support to enable virtualization, and adherence to PCI Express standards for consistent device compatibility.

These are all essentially designed to reduce the hardware quirks that have plagued compatibility with Arm systems within the x86 arena, ensuring secure boot processes and compatibility with modern software out-of-the-box.

Virtualization gets a lot of focus, with SMMU support baked into the requirements to handle memory management consistently and make device assignment practical within virtualized environments. From the first iteration of the PC-BSA, it seems that Arm PCs are being shaped to meet today's demands, where virtual machines and containers are essential for dividing and managing workloads.

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