2 ms·

So why 64 bit for embedded when the address space or math capability of 64 bit registers is rarely needed or used?

• irdc 3y ago
  I’m speculating here, but isn’t the fact that you can just run the exact same binary everywhere an advantage? Makes testing a lot easier. And these devices are (currently) too low-power for emulated code to thrive.
  • jqpabc123 3y ago
    I’m speculating here, but isn’t the fact that you can just run the exact same binary everywhere an advantage? "Embedded" typically means specialized hardware and code. "Running the same binary everywhere" is generally not a practical consideration with specialized hardware. Typical concerns I associate with "embedded" are minimizing production cost and maximizing efficiency in order to try and achieve a marketplace cost advantage. It is not clear how 64bit will help in this regard.
• flohofwoe 3y ago
  64-bit registers can be very useful for bit twiddling code (for instance my home computer emulators depend on 64-bit integers for efficiently manipulating and passing chip in/out pins around). 64-bit pointers on the other hand are overkill, but so are 32-bit pointers for most applications ;)
  • jqpabc123 3y ago
    but so are 32-bit pointers for most applications The address space of 16 bit pointers is only 64KB so I can understand 32 bit for pointers as well as math use in some cases. But the need to exceed a 4 GB/32bit address space for "embedded" is extremely rare at this time..