14 ms·

How awesome would it be if we could have a PnP processor? If you are docked, you run native x86 code. If you are mobile, you emulate it. The docking/undocking p

How awesome would it be if we could have a PnP processor? If you are docked, you run native x86 code. If you are mobile, you emulate it. The docking/undocking process could even be similar to VMotion.

Analemma_ 10y ago
It's a cool idea, but wouldn't the CPU be awfully far from the cache and RAM if you did that? You could put some RAM in the docking station with the x86 chip, but at that point you're two-thirds of the way toward just having another computer in there, which kind of defeats the purpose.
- mmastrac 10y ago
  I agree, it would probably be necessary for everything to live in the docking station other than storage. You'd basically be transferring the live system state, which would then take over from the portable device. The idea here is that you can "convert" your mobile device into a powerful desktop, though in reality you are just moving the current, live state from mobile to desktop.
  - bhauer 10y ago
    That is what some people have conjectured is in the works with a "Surface Phone," although it's really anyone's guess at this point. But it certainly is very appealing. With this new emulation news, the use-case could be that you can run your x86 apps (slowly) in a pinch while out and about. When you get home or to the office, you dock up to get a full-powered PC experience.
- rbanffy 10y ago
  It shouldn't take very long to copy a couple gigabytes (and it's usually not more than a couple) from RAM to RAM on docking. And a clever memory controller could copy it only when the memory is first demanded by the docking station CPU.
jmiserez 10y ago
You don't need x86 when mobile, legacy desktop apps don't work on small phone screens anyways. When mobile, you use native ARM for low power, when connected to power and a screen/mouse you can use more power and emulate x86 on the phone itself.

14 ms·

How awesome would it be if we could have a PnP processor? If you are docked, you run native x86 code. If you are mobile, you emulate it. The docking/undocking p

by mmastrac 10y ago

Analemma_ 10y ago
It's a cool idea, but wouldn't the CPU be awfully far from the cache and RAM if you did that? You could put some RAM in the docking station with the x86 chip, but at that point you're two-thirds of the way toward just having another computer in there, which kind of defeats the purpose.
- mmastrac 10y ago
  I agree, it would probably be necessary for everything to live in the docking station other than storage. You'd basically be transferring the live system state, which would then take over from the portable device. The idea here is that you can "convert" your mobile device into a powerful desktop, though in reality you are just moving the current, live state from mobile to desktop.
  - bhauer 10y ago
    That is what some people have conjectured is in the works with a "Surface Phone," although it's really anyone's guess at this point. But it certainly is very appealing. With this new emulation news, the use-case could be that you can run your x86 apps (slowly) in a pinch while out and about. When you get home or to the office, you dock up to get a full-powered PC experience.
- rbanffy 10y ago
  It shouldn't take very long to copy a couple gigabytes (and it's usually not more than a couple) from RAM to RAM on docking. And a clever memory controller could copy it only when the memory is first demanded by the docking station CPU.
jmiserez 10y ago
You don't need x86 when mobile, legacy desktop apps don't work on small phone screens anyways. When mobile, you use native ARM for low power, when connected to power and a screen/mouse you can use more power and emulate x86 on the phone itself.