How can I learn to build my own computer with Arm processors?

My question is about build a computer without SoC ICs and FPGAs. Is it possible? how?

I know it used to be possible with Arm Classic cores; ie up to Arm11. Some of the CPUs were "simplistic"; as in they contained only the Arm core and very little memory, anything required for a bootloader, but more memory required external DDR. With newer technology, Arm SoCs became widespread, and to be honest, I don't know of many chips that don't include most of the controllers. Granted, some chips will require external DDR and NAND, but not much else. If you are thinking of the Good Old Days (c) where you needed a CPU, memory, memory controller, interrupt controller, serial controller and indeed *.* controller, I don't know of anything. Besides, most chips will use SMT, making it hard for enthusiasts. With the exception of Cortex-M chips, I've never heard of a DIP chip. You might want to try with an Arm926EJ-S or Arm1176, but in a way, it is a shame not to make the most of recent developments; the Cortex range really is worth it.

Thanks a lot James.

I could understand you say new Arm processors have some peripherals built-in and they are SoC? If it's true what is the differences between a Arm products and other companies such NXP that use Arm processors to provide a microcontroller based on Arm? Can we buy an Arm processor and build own microcontrollet instead of buying from NXP or others? Is it very hard,expensive and impossible or it's easy and inexpensive?

I want to build a mini-PC like Raspbbery PI by using Arm processors, according to my needs. How can I do it?

Arm don't sell any actual physical processors (well except for some high end development boards). They sell intellectual property, they enable others to build a system on a chip easily with what they are interested in. In the past one could get a processor and some memory and and some other chips and stick them on a circuit board probably with one's own FPGA to do what one wanted. Today most of that can be stuck onto a single chip, instead of a physical chips to stick on a board one licences IP and fits it into a SoC, the board it is put on is there mostly to provide human sized sockets.

Aah, the joys of Arm. You've seen the post, you even have the Avatar, 50 billion Arm chips. How many did Arm make? Well, none, really. Maybe a few hundred here and there, but that's the huge difference; Arm doesn't make the chips, they design the technology, they do the R&D for new technologies, and exterior companies (partners, really) use their technology as a central point to their designs. The result is a huge ecosystem, with partners designing more and more peripherals, making awesome designs... Basically, what they do best. Arm continues to generate revenue from partners, and continues designs, creating new architectures and processor designs (Arm just recently designed a new Cortex-A).

That's your problem right there. You can't get any "true" Arm processors. Well, you can, you could acquire their technology, but this is designed for large companies, if you are looking to make a single chip, this is prohibitively expensive. Solution B, some companies sell FPGAs with an Arm core embedded inside, with enough external logic to create your own peripherals. In your case, don't. Keep the core as-is (is that even possible?). Then add your own external logic chips.

If you really want to build your "own" Rasperry-Pi type system, you can. You will have to look at all the vendors; NXP is just one of them. Samsung, TI, Silicon Labs, Nvidia, Freescale... This could go on for a very long time, there are a lot of partners. Have a look at what you need on your chip, and what the vendors propose. This is what the Raspberry Pi foundation actually did. Their design uses an Arm1176 core, designed by Arm of course, but made by Broadcom (with Broadcom peripherals). Some implementations will have lots of RAM, some won't. Some will have peripheral drivers, some won't. Decide first which Arm core you need; Cortex-A, Cortex-M, Arm Classic? (try and go for a Cortex). Make a list of what you want to have, what you don't want to have, and have a look at what is on the market. This could take some time, it is often the part that takes the longest. There's a lot of choice, depending on your needs. That is good.

Thanks a lot deith

Thanks a lot deith