However, regardless of who, what is known is that the interest in the Atom core is notable for several reasons. First, my long-requested chip design since 2011 to integrate a solar Pentium using near threshold voltage may have a new chip architect who may be receptive to my ideas (I am being extremely optimistic, of course). While I have focused on 32-bit code because of the smaller code footprint for legacy applications, I also realize that the most heavily funded companies that plan to manufacture chips in the millions or billions may need to future-proof their product on something like 64 bit. And since 64 bit can emulate most 32 bit, I am willing to postpone emphasis on 32 bit if it can be later implemented on a native 32-bit ISA (from the success of the 64 bit chip).
The reasons for this include non-negotiable business markets- the architecture has to be mininimally modififiable to justify non-recoverable engineering costs- While the X86S chip might go into HPC, mobile devices, desktop and IoT devices, adapting it for a single low power instance where it doesn't need more than 1GB of RAM doesn't preclude its manufacture, although DDR5/6 requires a minimum of 64Gb chips (8GB) suggesting SPI-based RAM may be needed, if possible. DDR4 capacities start at 4GB.
In my linux tests yesterday, TinyCorePure64 linux would boot in no less than 128MB of RAM (partly due to the ramdisk). But the power consumption of a RAM chip utilizing more than 128MB would certainly exceed hundreds of milliwatts. Even if it could idle to less than 50 milliwatts, it is far too energy intensive for the smallest edge devices and portable mobile devices to run on solar power alone. While this will eventually be feasible in a decade or 15 years, it would be far more impressive to deliver results within the next 4 years by showing increasingly all-in-one systems capable of userspace linux in under 128MB.
Maybe Atom chips are being used in HPC, the same way the XeonPhi chip was designed years ago:
https://chipsandcheese.com/p/knights-landing-atom-with-avx-512 It had AVX-512 and quite a bit of cores- 72, and 4 threads per core- with 288 threads on the chip.
Also of note was that Intel had planned a 10nm revision of Knight's Landing, called Knight's Mill, but it was cancelled in 2017. Since the vendor that is developing X86 claims it is neither Intel nor AMD, my only guess is it could be an attempt to restart the HPC or network switch investment for AI data retention and local processing, as some commenters on Phoronix or elsewhere have mentioned the benefit of CISC processors caching LLMs over lighter RISCs, resulting in less IPC.
My updated eDRAM concept with a 64 bit Atom was able to fit a Tremont single core X6200FE with 2D planar IGZO RAM in less than 25mm^2. This was approximately the same size as the first Atom Bonnell in 2008, which at the time yielded 2500 chips per 300mm^2 wafer. Without relying on 3D stacking, this could be the most economical way to produce a low cost and light-performance chip.
My first concept on this updated Atom chip was 2 days ago, with just 64MB of RAM:
The only devices I could find that used it were a SMARC card: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/IPCADL10176/ADLINK-LEC-EL-6200FE-4G-64G-ER-Short-Size-Module-w
However, Intel's Atom portfolio has become smaller as the company shifted its low-power processor strategy toward E-Cores, which succeeded Atom-based designs in newer products.
The 2nd update calls for 128MB of RAM, and in as little as 24mm^2:
What is the x6200FE?
- It is the Intel Atom x6200FE processor.
- It is a dual-core chip made for industrial uses.
- It runs at a base speed of 1.00 GHz.
Where is it used?
- Companies do not build standard retail laptops with this chip.
- It is built into rugged, fanless computers for harsh environments.
- You will find it on small, modular circuit boards like the ADLINK LEC-EL module.
- These boards are used in factories, medical devices, and transit systems
Also, some speculation has been made on news sites whether the Atom license by Rosaic labs uses Gracemont, a newer Atom chip based on a new E-core architecture (Intel's own is using it in 18A Darkmont, the Xeon 6). It's very possible they used that instead of Tremont or a Xeon Phi deriviative, because the AVX-512 instructions and the increased throughout may be more suitable for the scalability needed for the APX instructions. But more likely it is an Atom Phi (pre-Gracemont), while sandpile's website, confirms a next gen E core after Darkmont, called Arctic Wolf (ARW):
The mysterious x86S though, are placeholded by 2 evolutionary themed processors:
"Providing Rosaic access to Atom technology is unusual because Intel has traditionally kept key parts of its x86 intellectual property under tighter control rather than widely licensing processor designs.
However, Intel's Atom portfolio has become smaller as the company shifted its low-power processor strategy toward E-Cores, which succeeded Atom-based designs in newer products.
E-Cores use newer microarchitectures such as Gracemont, meaning Intel may view selected Atom technology as suitable for external licensing while keeping its latest processor designs within its own roadmap."
So this explains my reasoning for angling for X86S. The news is still fresh (even though it has been developed for over a year- whether that means taped out or just drafted), and there aren't many opportunities to influence a major architectural decision that may stay with us for decades- as people will be using 64 bit for a very, very long time.
Not to sound dramatic, but I recently thought about this quote that Slavoj Žižek referenced from
Lenin: "History will never forgive us if we miss this opportunity."
To read more about my project, visit: https://ei2030.github.io/FemtoTX/#about
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