systemonchips

A system on a chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit that consolidates most or all components of a computer or other electronic system onto a single semiconductor die. A typical SoC includes a central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), memory blocks (RAM and cache), input/output controllers, and peripheral interfaces, along with specialized accelerators such as digital signal processors (DSPs) or neural processing units (NPUs). In many designs the SoC also contains memory controllers, security modules, and system-level interconnects, enabling a complete system on a single chip.

Architectures rely on heterogeneous integration: multi-core CPUs paired with dedicated accelerators, on-chip memory hierarchies, and high-bandwidth interconnects such as AMBA/AXI. SoCs are designed to balance performance, power, area, and cost. They reduce board complexity, lower power consumption, and shorten signal paths, making them common in mobile devices, embedded systems, automotive electronics, and IoT.

Manufacturing involves semiconductor fabrication processes and collaboration with foundries. Design emphasizes power management, thermal limits, verification, and IP reuse, with increasing integration driving security features such as trusted execution environments. Notable examples include consumer mobile processors from Qualcomm, Samsung, and MediaTek, as well as more general-purpose or specialized designs from Apple, Nvidia, and others, such as Apple Silicon, Qualcomm Snapdragon, Samsung Exynos, and Nvidia Tegra.

The SoC market continues to evolve toward greater on-chip AI capability, enhanced security, and improved efficiency through advanced process nodes and heterogeneous computing.