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It's Over: Intel Publishes "x86-S" Specification, for 64-Bit Only x86 Architecture

posted by janrinok on Monday May 22, @11:56AM   Printer-friendly

takyon writes:

Intel Publishes "X86-S" Specification For 64-bit Only Architecture

Intel quietly released a new whitepaper and specification for their proposal on "X86-S" as a 64-bit only x86 architecture. If their plans workout, in the years ahead we could see a revised 64-bit only x86 architecture.

Entitled "Envisioning a Simplified Intel Architecture", Intel engineers lay the case for a 64-bit mode-only architecture. Intel is still said to be investigating the 64-bit mode-only architecture that they also refer to as "x86S". Intel is hoping to solicit industry feedback while they continue to explore a 64-bit mode only ISA.

[...] Under this proposal, those wanting to run legacy 32-bit operating systems would have to rely on virtualization. To further clarify, 32-bit x86 user-space software would continue to work on modern 64-bit operating systems with X86-S.

Also at Tom's Hardware.

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  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday May 23, @01:51PM (1 child)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday May 23, @01:51PM (#1307653) Journal

    There are always virtual machines and hypervisors.

    Maybe some clever motherboard firmware could have an emulator that allows booting a 32 bit OS in emulation. Maybe several at once. Why not emulate other processors such as ARM and RISC V.

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  • (Score: 2) by Immerman on Tuesday May 23, @02:22PM

    by Immerman (3985) on Tuesday May 23, @02:22PM (#1307667)

    And emulators like PCem for greater compatibility.

    Seems kind of silly to include an emulator in firmware... but hardly the silliest thing I've seen. Remind me again who thought it would be a good idea to let you boot into a firmware-based web browser that realistically never gets security updates?