3 ms·
We use x86 because the implementations are fast and there's so much software encoded with it. This makes up for the problems of the design. RISC-V doesn't have
by mike_hearn 2mo ago
We use x86 because the implementations are fast and there's so much software encoded with it. This makes up for the problems of the design. RISC-V doesn't have either of those advantages, though.
- bjackman 2mo agoYeah my x86 comment wasn't meant to suggest RISCV can easily beat x86 it was pointing out that "being a good arch" is very low on the list of priorities for making the arch successful. Exactly as you say, x86 is successful coz there are really good x86 CPUs and a SW ecosystem. Not because it's a good arch. Similarly I think, if it wins, RISCV will win because there's enough demand for a nonproprietary ISA, and this trumps basically everything else. Another way to say this: I've seen internal slide decks about ISA strategy that target C-suites at megacorps. Not once do those slide decks ever go into technical dis/advantages, coz the people steering the 9-figure investments don't give a shit. If you piped up in those meetings and said "RISCV sucks though!!!" you would just be ignored and not invited back. It's not really any different from startups. Tech stacks matter but there's a huge number of successful companies out there running total garbage and who knows how many perfectly engineered products go out of business every day coz the thing they perfectly engineered was not useful.