Chiplets at the Edge: How Modular SoCs Redefine Performance Per Watt

October 12, 2026 -

Chiplets and modular SoCs prioritize performance per watt by balancing CPU, accelerators, memory, and I/O while managing data movement, latency, and heat.

By Giordana Francesca Brescia, embedded.com

The evolution of edge systems is shifting the focus from computing power alone to how efficiently each watt is transformed into useful performance. Chiplets and modular system-on-chips (SoCs) enable the combination of CPUs, accelerators, memory, and I/O based on specific needs, creating new possibilities for designing more compact, flexible, and efficient platforms.

From silicon scalability to modularity

Traditionally, the increase in performance of embedded systems has been linked to the increasing number of transistors within a single die. The monolithic SoC has been the natural solution to this evolution. CPUs, GPUs, accelerators, memory controllers, communication interfaces, and peripherals are built within the same chip, sharing power, clock, and internal connections.

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