pact between rivals to save x86

During Lenovo Tech World 2024 in Seattle, we witnessed a surprise announcement during the first conference: Intel and AMD announced an alliance to revive the x86 architecture in light of ARM’s advances in recent years.

This is a strategic shift and a pact between competitors seeking to maintain their dominance in the processor market.

Why is this important. This is an unprecedented alliance, and if that wasn’t enough, it was announced at a big annual event by a third party, Lenovo.

This well reflects the scale of the threat that the ARM architecture poses to the PC and server market after taking over mobile phones.

Context. The x86 architecture has dominated the computer and server processor market for decades.

However, the rise of mobile devices and the need to strive for greater energy efficiency eventually led to the introduction of ARM-based chips, which not so long ago seemed weak for use in mainstream computers.

Alliance:

• The newly created x86 advisory group includes giants such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, Dell and Lenovo.
• Its goal is to improve compatibility and scalability of the x86 platform.
• They also strive to simplify software development and standardize interfaces.

Threat. ARM has gained popularity for two main reasons: energy efficiency and design flexibility. Apple, Qualcomm and other manufacturers are introducing this architecture into mobile devices and computers.

The alliance carries an implicit message: Both Intel and AMD recognize the need to join forces to keep the x86 processor, which has been stymied, relevant.

• As if that weren’t enough, the industry’s shift to AI workloads requires new levels of processor customization and scalability.

Details. The collaboration between Intel and AMD goes beyond simple compatibility. They are committed to developing a common roadmap for x86 development, an unprecedented movement.

The question, of course, is whether this move will serve to stop ARM’s progress and whether it seems reasonable at this point to think that x86 can remain the dominant architecture in the PC and server market, which was already looking very difficult.

Featured Image | Hataka

In Hatak | The amazing story of ARM, the architecture that triumphs in mobile phones and was born more than 30 years ago at Acorn Computer.