Intel Continues Prepping The Linux Kernel For X86S

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Intel Continues Prepping The Linux Kernel For X86S

Nearly one year ago Intel published the X86S specification (formerly stylized as "X86-S") for simplifying the Intel architecture by removing support for 16-bit and 32-bit operating systems. X86S is a big step forward with dropping legacy mode, 5-level paging improvements, and other modernization improvements for x86_64. With the Linux 6.9 kernel more x86S bits are in place for this ongoing effort...

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.9-More-X86S

[marios]

X86_64 is a shitty architecture with 1 redeeming quality, backwards compatibility. X86S looks like a shitty architecture with 0 redeeming qualities...

[Artim]

X86_64 is a shitty architecture with 1 redeeming quality, backwards compatibility. X86S looks like a shitty architecture with 0 redeeming qualities...

But still is the architecture with the highest available computing power. Unless all x86 CPUs out there can be replaced by ARM or RISC-V, any improvement is welcome. And there's simply no reason to still have 16 bit native support available, and probably 32 bit support isn't really worth it either. If you need it, emulate it. This direction should be much easier to achieve than trying to run 64 bit software on 32 bit hardware.

[user1]

X86_64 is a shitty architecture with 1 redeeming quality, backwards compatibility. X86S looks like a shitty architecture with 0 redeeming qualities...

Backwards compatibility will remain identical for user space 64 bit and 32 bit software...

[sobrus]

Long time ago, I had an Amiga, and though how shitty x86 is.
Years have passed, and so many less shitty architectures already bite the dust. 86k, 88k, Alpha, MIPS, Sparc, Itanium, PowerPC, SuperH to name a few.

And yet somehow not only x86-64 works while retaining legacy compatibility (think about Apple that had painful 68k->PPC->x86->Arm path), but it's not that much worse than "latest and greatest".

It's really unfair to compare let's say Apple M3 with x86-64 parts. Apple is expensive, Like $2000 pro laptop with 8GB of RAM in 2024.
They can use 3nm process, and throw a lot of silicon while keeping voltage and frequency low, because they will make profit anyway.
Ryzen 5950x has 8B transistors. RX6900XT has 26B including huge cache. Apple M3 Max has 92B. This is much more than 4090 has.
It's not architecture that makes the difference, but money. PC parts are always overclocked far too much to save on silicon. For example RDNA2 chips should never exceed ~2,2Ghz. They are painfully inefficient above that. Same story with Ryzens (series 5000 should run at around 4,5-4.7Ghz max even when undervolted)

I'm not a fan of x86, I just don't care anymore, as long as it works as intended. I doubt there will be any miracles if we go ARM or RISCV. x86 cores are very efficient nowadays. But there will be problems for sure, if you want to use older software.

[Nocturnal64]

IMHO the 32-bit compatibility should be limited too - like max 4 cores able to execute 32-bit code.

[rene]

IMHO the 32-bit compatibility should be limited too - like max 4 cores able to execute 32-bit code.

Such BIG.little setup would only cause problems and still have this old junk support in there. Just give us 10% faster cores without dragging compatibility of the 1970 around and run 16 bit real-mode and 32-bit code in Qemu JIT sandbox where it belongs. Pro tip: even works on latest and unmatched RISCV64 Linux desktop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGr0vmffSa0

[rene]

X86_64 is a shitty architecture with 1 redeeming quality, backwards compatibility. X86S looks like a shitty architecture with 0 redeeming qualities...

making future cores less complex and less buggy. Allowing for higher clock and more cores by die area saved are pretty redeeming qualities for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FpXimj1oA

[zboszor]

What about running FreeDOS and all the legacy DOS software?

[dragon321]

X86_64 is a shitty architecture with 1 redeeming quality, backwards compatibility. X86S looks like a shitty architecture with 0 redeeming qualities...

It's still backwards compatible with the only thing that matters now which is running 32 bit software.