Thoughts on software-defined silicon [LWN.net]

Thoughts on software-defined silicon

Posted Feb 18, 2022 20:20 UTC (Fri) by tux3 (subscriber, #101245)
Parent article: Thoughts on software-defined silicon

Maybe this 'feature' is a preparation for the last few deathrattles of Moore's Law.

If we can't keep selling meaningful upgrades, phasing in a subscription model early seems optimal.
If improvements keep slowing down, it will eventually be cheaper for you to software-upgrade your i3 into an i5 than buy the 5% better and newer i3s that come out every year or two.
This'd be great for Intel, who is now in the business of selling people upgrades while saving the cost of an entire chip.

Thoughts on software-defined silicon

Posted Feb 21, 2022 4:20 UTC (Mon) by timrichardson (subscriber, #72836) [Link]

Sounds very similar to resizing an AWS virtual server as needs grow; in other words, a very popular approach.

Thoughts on software-defined silicon

Posted Feb 21, 2022 12:38 UTC (Mon) by BirAdam (guest, #132170) [Link]

Intel is preparing to license not just x86 but also their own designs. People will be able to buy different brands of the same chip (potentially) and some may not be crippled.