Intel to drop 32-bit support (x86)

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Envisioning a Simplified Intel Architecture

The long life of Intel® Architecture has resulted in a rich software ecosystem with an enormous installed base that extends from PCs to the cloud to mobile and from embedded devices to supercomputers and beyond.

Since its introduction over 20 years ago, the Intel® 64 architecture became the dominant operating mode. As an example of this evolution, Microsoft stopped shipping the 32-bit version of their Windows 11 operating system. Intel firmware no longer supports non UEFI64 operating systems natively. 64-bit operating systems are the de facto standard today. They retain the ability to run 32-bit applications but have stopped supporting 16-bit applications natively.

With this evolution, Intel believes there are opportunities for simplification in our hardware and software ecosystem.

Certain legacy modes have little utility in modern operating systems besides bootstrapping the CPU into the 64-bit mode. It is worth asking the question, “Could these seldom used elements of the architecture be removed to simplify a 64-bit mode-only architecture?”…

This whitepaper details the architectural enhancements and modifications that Intel is currently investigating for a 64-bit mode-only architecture referred to as x86S (for simplification). Intel is publishing this paper to solicit feedback from the ecosystem while exploring the benefits of extending the ISA transition to a 64-bit mode-only solution. ..

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Cybertooth

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I don’t think this would drop 32-bit application support from the CPU, it just removes support for native 16-bit real mode and 32-bit protected mode. Every CPU since the 8088/8086 in the original IBM PC powers up in real mode but nowadays is almost immediately switched to 64-bit long mode by the UEFI.

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Cybertooth

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steeviebops wrote:

I don’t think this would drop 32-bit application support from the CPU

I think that it will. 32-bit apps will run in VM mode.

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Alex5723 wrote:

steeviebops wrote:

I don’t think this would drop 32-bit application support from the CPU

I think that it will. 32-bit apps will run in VM mode.

x64 long mode has a 32-bit compatibility submode (which is what WoW64 uses). Removing that would be suicide for the platform. I’ve always said that nobody would continue to use Windows if backwards compatibility was chopped, it’s not worth it. I still believe this is just the removal of real mode and protected mode as they’re not used anymore.

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