3 ms·

>but for parts like these risc is massive overkill You seem to underestimate how small a RISC-V core can be. Take a look at SERV.

• irdc 2y ago
  There’s also the cost of rewriting (yes, from assembler) all the existing code. And don’t forget QA.
• monocasa 2y ago
  The area of just the register file (even for rv32e) is higher area than the survivors of the 8 bit ucontrollers.
  • snvzz 2y ago
    Not true for SERV vs 6502. SERV is smaller.
  • userbinator 2y ago
    16 registers * 32 bits * 4 transistors / cell = 2k transistors just for storing the bits alone, and that's not including the decoding and read/write circuitry.
    • snvzz 2y ago
      There is no need to do weird math, as we know the actual numbers. 6502 has 3510 transistors. SERV at CMOS occupies 2.1kGE. SERV is smaller than 6502.
      • monocasa 2y ago
        Gate Elements are multiple transistors. And that count doesn't include SERV's register file.
        • snvzz 2y ago
          So you're saying they'd end up in the same ballpark? In that case, I'd rather have RISC-V's programming model.
          • monocasa 2y ago
            More like about half the size. And probably running at about 10x the IPC of SERV.