Intel and AMD form advisory group to reshape x86 ISA

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

x86’s future vs “let it die”

  • Many want to move away from x86, arguing emulation (Apple M-series, Snapdragon X) is “good enough” to preserve legacy.
  • Others say x86 will persist for decades due to massive software, driver, and platform inertia.
  • Some see Intel+AMD’s advisory group as a defensive move to keep x86 relevant and re‑patentable rather than truly modernize.

ARM: promise and limitations

  • Apple’s ARM chips are praised for performance and perf/W, but several note that:
    • Apple’s success is as much implementation, integration, and process node as ISA.
    • Rosetta 2 is fast but incomplete (e.g., no AVX), and whole‑VM/x86 Linux emulation can be slow.
  • Non‑Apple ARM (Qualcomm, Ampere, generic cores) is seen as:
    • Competitive or better on efficiency, but usually behind top x86 on peak performance.
    • Hampered by weak Linux support, slow mainlining, missing GPU drivers.
  • Concern that ARM licensing is “another dead end” similar to x86, not true openness.

RISC‑V and open ISAs

  • RISC‑V is viewed by some as the real escape hatch: open ISA, competitive commodity ecosystem, fewer patent traps.
  • Skeptics argue current RISC‑V/ARM SoCs are highly fragmented, each needing custom OS ports.
  • Counterpoint: RISC‑V defenders claim SoCs generally follow platform specs and use common firmware (OpenSBI), calling fragmentation fears overblown.

Platform standardization vs SoC chaos

  • Strong appreciation for x86 PCs: ACPI/UEFI plus mature drivers mean “buy-anything-and-install-Linux.”
  • Many fear a post‑x86 world of locked‑down, phone‑like devices and bootloader exploits.
  • Debate over whether ARM/RISC‑V platform standards (UEFI, DTB, ACPI-for-RISC‑V) are real and promoted enough.

ISA evolution: AVX, APX, cruft

  • Interest in cleaning x86 up:
    • AVX‑512/AVX10 and wide vectors shown as beneficial, especially via better frontends.
    • APX (more GPRs, 3‑operand ops, predication) is seen as “AVX for scalar code.”
    • Some advocate an open, cleaner x86‑64 subset, even if slightly backward‑incompatible.
  • Others insist ISA “ugliness” matters less than performance, power, and stability.

Use cases: gaming, desktops, and real workloads

  • Gaming and DIY PCs are cited as major anchors for x86; ARM/RISC‑V gaming is seen as far off.
  • Many general users could live on ARM, but specialized workloads, drivers, and high‑FPS gaming keep x86 attractive.