Intel’s recent decision to abandon the x86S specification may reflect a strategic shift, potentially influenced by leadership changes at the top. The move announced amidst broader restructuring efforts, signals a renewed focus on priorities as the company distances itself from side projects that could drain resources over time.
The x86S initiative, introduced in May 2023, aimed to simplify the x86 instruction set by eliminating 32-bit support and focusing solely on 64-bit operations. Despite a revision in June, the project has now been shelved.
The timing suggests that the newly formed x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group, which includes key industry players like AMD, Google, HP, Oracle, and Broadcom, may have played a role in this decision. A collaborative approach likely aligns better with the ecosystem’s need for stability and standardization, avoiding potential disruption.
Intel’s ability to independently drive such changes was always in question. With critical challenges like its high-stakes 18A process node development—rumored to have a low yield rate—it seems impractical for the company to pursue disruptive side projects. Additionally, the x86 instruction set underpins decades of hardware, including legacy systems crucial for global infrastructure. Eliminating 32-bit instructions could have triggered widespread complications for industries relying on legacy hardware.
In the end, the real “abandonware” turned out to be the x86S project itself, a decision that ensures stability as the x86 ecosystem prepares for future challenges under unified guidance.
Source: Tom’s Hardware
