RISC-V Without the Limits: Andes’ Processor IP Powers the Edge and Beyond

Open standards for next-gen compute

At Computex 2025, Andes Technology gave us a detailed look into their latest RISC-V developments—and made a compelling case for ditching proprietary architectures. Unlike ARM or x86, RISC-V is built on open standards, allowing for greater innovation and extensibility. Andes, with over 20 years of experience as a dedicated processor IP vendor, is one of the core players pushing this shift forward.

From endpoints to AI acceleration

While Andes doesn’t manufacture chips directly, their Voyager board demo showed a 2.2 GHz multi-core test chip running Android, based on a TSMC 12nm process. This wasn’t just for show—the test platform proves the scalability and performance potential of Andes’ RISC-V IP across real-world workloads.

The applications are broad. Andes supports edge-to-cloud deployment, including AI workloads where dataflow customisation is key. Around 40% of their customers are building AI applications, and Andes’ support for RISC-V extensions enables high-performance inference and acceleration without needing an external co-processor.

A growing RISC-V ecosystem

What really separates Andes from other RISC-V vendors is their head start. They were offering processor IP long before the RISC-V standard was finalised, and they’ve since built an ecosystem that supports everything from open toolchains to commercial-grade SDKs.

This foundation is especially valuable for industries like automotive and security, where customisation and certification are critical. Andes’ support for error reporting and safety extensions positions them as a strong IP partner for future automotive designs.

Why engineers should take a look

If you’re designing for the edge, building in AI, or seeking an open path to high-performance embedded compute, Andes’ RISC-V IP is a strong contender. Their Voyager board offers an easy way to explore the architecture in a familiar Android or Linux environment. For developers, the benefits are clear: better customisability, faster time-to-market, and an architecture that evolves with you.