Tuesday, October 15th 2024
Intel and AMD Form x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group
Intel Corp. (INTC) and AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) today announced the creation of an x86 ecosystem advisory group bringing together technology leaders to shape the future of the world's most widely used computing architecture. x86 is uniquely positioned to meet customers' emerging needs by delivering superior performance and seamless interoperability across hardware and software platforms. The group will focus on identifying new ways to expand the x86 ecosystem by enabling compatibility across platforms, simplifying software development, and providing developers with a platform to identify architectural needs and features to create innovative and scalable solutions for the future.
For over four decades, x86 has served as the bedrock of modern computing, establishing itself as the preferred architecture in data centers and PCs worldwide. In today's evolving landscape - characterized by dynamic AI workloads, custom chiplets, and advancements in 3D packaging and system architectures - the importance of a robust and expanding x86 ecosystem is more crucial than ever.
"We are on the cusp of one of the most significant shifts in the x86 architecture and ecosystem in decades - with new levels of customization, compatibility and scalability needed to meet current and future customer needs," said Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO. "We proudly stand together with AMD and the founding members of this advisory group, as we ignite the future of compute, and we deeply appreciate the support of so many industry leaders."
"Establishing the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group will ensure that the x86 architecture continues evolving as the compute platform of choice for both developers and customers," said Lisa Su, AMD Chair and CEO. "We are excited to bring the industry together to provide direction on future architectural enhancements and extend the incredible success of x86 for decades to come."
The advisory group aims to unite industry leaders to shape the future of x86 and foster developer innovation through a more unified set of instructions and architectural interfaces. This initiative will enhance compatibility, predictability and consistency across x86 product offerings. To achieve this, the group will solicit technical input from the x86 hardware and software communities on essential functions and features. Collaboration will facilitate the creation of consistent and compatible implementations of key x86 architectural features and programming models, extending across all sectors - including data centers, cloud, client, edge and embedded devices - ultimately delivering downstream benefits to customers. The intended outcomes include:
CEO Quotes from Founding Members
Broadcom Inc. President and CEO Hock Tan
"We are at a crossroads in the history of computing. The x86 architectural decisions we make today will affect programming models, frameworks and systems for decades to come. Broadcom looks forward to lending its industry perspective to the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group as a pioneer in silicon development and x86 virtualization with VMware."
Dell Technologies Chairman and CEO Michael Dell
"Dell has a long history of working with the x86 platform. We look forward to collaborating with Intel, AMD and fellow x86 Advisory Group members to continue driving innovation for our customers and partners."
Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian
"Google is excited to join this x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group to help shape the future of computing. Taking a pan-industry approach ensures consistent implementations, which aligns with Google's commitment to fostering innovation and providing the best possible experience for our developers and users. By simplifying and standardizing across the x86 ecosystem, we can unlock new levels of performance, efficiency, and ease of use, ultimately accelerating the development and adoption of cutting-edge technologies."
Hewlett Packard Enterprise President and CEO Antonio Neri
"HPE is honored to be a founding member of the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group, helping shape a consistent future architecture with innovative new features that meet customers' evolving computing needs."
HP Inc. President and CEO Enrique Lores
"We are honored to join Intel, AMD, and other advisory group members to advance the x86 architecture. At HP, we believe that the future of work will require technology that drives growth and fulfillment for both employees and the companies they work for. Building a more efficient, secure, and customizable x86 ecosystem will help accelerate this evolution."
Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang
"Lenovo is delighted to be one of the founding members of this important new advisory group, given our role in the industry for the past decade. When we work together as an industry ecosystem, we all benefit, but more importantly, so do our customers. I'm looking forward to sharing our technical expertise as we collectively accelerate the growing x86 market across client, edge and cloud."
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella
"x86 has been foundational to modern computing for over four decades, and we want to ensure it continues to evolve and benefit everyone going forward. By bringing together partners across the industry, the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Board will play a critical role in shaping future x86 architectural features and help drive software consistency and standard interfaces."
Oracle CEO Safra Catz
"The x86 architecture has had a profound impact on the computing industry, driving innovations through constant evolution. As a long-time partner with both AMD and Intel, Oracle is proud to be a founding member of the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group. We are committed to addressing customer needs by delivering technological advancements and fostering collaboration across the ecosystem."
Red Hat President and CEO Matt Hicks
"Red Hat believes that hybrid cloud computing represents the path forward for innovative IT, from cloud-native applications and services to AI and intelligent workloads. Forming the foundation of these great leaps forward is architecture choice, specifically standardized and well-defined architectures like x86. We're pleased to be a founding member of the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group and look forward to serving as part of the industry vanguard in furthering x86 technologies as a cornerstone of IT's innovative future."
Sources:
AMD, Intel
For over four decades, x86 has served as the bedrock of modern computing, establishing itself as the preferred architecture in data centers and PCs worldwide. In today's evolving landscape - characterized by dynamic AI workloads, custom chiplets, and advancements in 3D packaging and system architectures - the importance of a robust and expanding x86 ecosystem is more crucial than ever.
"Establishing the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group will ensure that the x86 architecture continues evolving as the compute platform of choice for both developers and customers," said Lisa Su, AMD Chair and CEO. "We are excited to bring the industry together to provide direction on future architectural enhancements and extend the incredible success of x86 for decades to come."
The advisory group aims to unite industry leaders to shape the future of x86 and foster developer innovation through a more unified set of instructions and architectural interfaces. This initiative will enhance compatibility, predictability and consistency across x86 product offerings. To achieve this, the group will solicit technical input from the x86 hardware and software communities on essential functions and features. Collaboration will facilitate the creation of consistent and compatible implementations of key x86 architectural features and programming models, extending across all sectors - including data centers, cloud, client, edge and embedded devices - ultimately delivering downstream benefits to customers. The intended outcomes include:
- Enhancing customer choice and compatibility across hardware and software, while accelerating their ability to benefit from new, cutting-edge features.
- Simplifying architectural guidelines to enhance software consistency and standardize interfaces across x86 product offerings from Intel and AMD.
- Enabling greater and more efficient integration of new capabilities into operating systems, frameworks and applications.
CEO Quotes from Founding Members
Broadcom Inc. President and CEO Hock Tan
"We are at a crossroads in the history of computing. The x86 architectural decisions we make today will affect programming models, frameworks and systems for decades to come. Broadcom looks forward to lending its industry perspective to the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group as a pioneer in silicon development and x86 virtualization with VMware."
Dell Technologies Chairman and CEO Michael Dell
"Dell has a long history of working with the x86 platform. We look forward to collaborating with Intel, AMD and fellow x86 Advisory Group members to continue driving innovation for our customers and partners."
Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian
"Google is excited to join this x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group to help shape the future of computing. Taking a pan-industry approach ensures consistent implementations, which aligns with Google's commitment to fostering innovation and providing the best possible experience for our developers and users. By simplifying and standardizing across the x86 ecosystem, we can unlock new levels of performance, efficiency, and ease of use, ultimately accelerating the development and adoption of cutting-edge technologies."
Hewlett Packard Enterprise President and CEO Antonio Neri
"HPE is honored to be a founding member of the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group, helping shape a consistent future architecture with innovative new features that meet customers' evolving computing needs."
HP Inc. President and CEO Enrique Lores
"We are honored to join Intel, AMD, and other advisory group members to advance the x86 architecture. At HP, we believe that the future of work will require technology that drives growth and fulfillment for both employees and the companies they work for. Building a more efficient, secure, and customizable x86 ecosystem will help accelerate this evolution."
Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang
"Lenovo is delighted to be one of the founding members of this important new advisory group, given our role in the industry for the past decade. When we work together as an industry ecosystem, we all benefit, but more importantly, so do our customers. I'm looking forward to sharing our technical expertise as we collectively accelerate the growing x86 market across client, edge and cloud."
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella
"x86 has been foundational to modern computing for over four decades, and we want to ensure it continues to evolve and benefit everyone going forward. By bringing together partners across the industry, the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Board will play a critical role in shaping future x86 architectural features and help drive software consistency and standard interfaces."
Oracle CEO Safra Catz
"The x86 architecture has had a profound impact on the computing industry, driving innovations through constant evolution. As a long-time partner with both AMD and Intel, Oracle is proud to be a founding member of the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group. We are committed to addressing customer needs by delivering technological advancements and fostering collaboration across the ecosystem."
Red Hat President and CEO Matt Hicks
"Red Hat believes that hybrid cloud computing represents the path forward for innovative IT, from cloud-native applications and services to AI and intelligent workloads. Forming the foundation of these great leaps forward is architecture choice, specifically standardized and well-defined architectures like x86. We're pleased to be a founding member of the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group and look forward to serving as part of the industry vanguard in furthering x86 technologies as a cornerstone of IT's innovative future."
33 Comments on Intel and AMD Form x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group
For Apple, this is not an issue, but for Windows... On top of that, there's a lack of drivers for a lot of things Arm related, regardless of OS, as the chip makers don't always provide a ful set of drivers, but instead rely on the open source community to make those at their leisure.
For first step, let they standardize chipsets and sockets, so user can replace Intel CPU with AMD CPU, without changing mobo. Then second step, let create x86R (reset), with reduced instructions, well designed memory models, vector processing, usability for phones / tablets, and other aspects that are currently messed and convoluted. Final third step, license it for any other company that want use any core existing (Intel or AMD) or make their custom core and need only ISA.
But I doubt thet make any of these step. Intel and AMD still want to rule and co-rule, and make these groups to hold grip over these partners, and threate them with 'x86 or ARM' choice.
The issue with keeping things the same is that no new features can be added, which means we're not going to get any new features and then people are going to start complaining.
Do we need a new socket/chipset every year? No, but at the same time, things are moving forward at a steady pace, so anything older than say three-four years, is going to be so outdated that it's not going to be possible to update things.
It would be impossible to standardise a chipset between AMD and Intel, at least the way things are today, largely due to Intel having so much proprietary tech on their side, whereas AMD is mainly PCIe. I doubt either company would agree to use common CPU sockets, so even if we end up with all chipsets being compatible with either CPU, it's not going to help.
Intel is already working on a reduced instruction set
www.techpowerup.com/326967/intel-updates-64-bit-only-x86s-instruction-set-architecture-specification-to-version-1-2
Intel tried phones and lost billions on it, x86 isn't suitable for that form factor, let's not go there.
Licensing cores aren't going to work, neither company has designed their architectures for something like that and it would not be cost effective, as x86 chips are not like Arm or RISC-V that was designed for modularity.
Just by chance I saw today - it's dead. -> www.gentoo.org/news/2024/08/14/Gentoo-drops-IA-64-support.html
EDIT: Why funny? Plenty of defunct stuff is supported by gentoo you know... they still support the friggin PPC970 aka the Mac G5.
www.phoronix.com/news/GCC-15-Undeprecates-Itanium
- long use AM4 socket do not prevented adding new features. At Intel you have insanity with LGA 1156, 1155, 1150, 1151 and 1200. Do few pins difference really justify any innovation barriers ? On most mobos you can find third party chipsets for sound / wifi / lan etc
- x86S is just too small change. They should make new ISA with 20% instructions, clear programming model and without legacy burden. Then OS / apps will begin to use new ISA, while old soft continue to use current legacy ISA. At some point legacy ISA could by dunped from hardware and be accesible only via emulation.
But both Intel and AMD want to sit in their comfortable duopoly position, forcing users to frequent changes and overspend on buying features. For ISA they continue to make snowball approach, and best example is adding APX and AVX10 with distinction for hardware vector length, totally opposite what developers suggest. But it will be helpfull to marketing is as 'new innovative features'.
The only real last holdout is the Windows Desktop PC.
- The instruction set part is wishful thinking. All x86 implementations today do micro-ops - complexity and legacy are a burden mainly on decoder. Now read your list and compare that to what for example ARM (or Apple) is doing lately, that should be a fun comparison about what direction the trend is.
- Usability for phones/tablets is not a technical question but a market one. Intel did about a generation worth of actual attempt to make phone and tablet SoCs. They were not half bad but serious efforts were discontinued primarily because the profit margin was not good enough vs doing more desktop and data center stuff. If they want to move into that segment, this might not be as hard of a transition as you seem to think. Same applies for AMD - the new handhelds are already halfway there, they are getting a lot of good intel about power consumption challenges.
- I do agree on x86 licensing but unfortunately that is a real mess. The main reason licensing has not been done is fear of real competition - and what better example to illustrate than Nvidia not being able to secure a license back when they tried to get one (and were not yet the behemoth of a company they are today). Lets see if the new Advisory Group changes anything in that regard.