X86 gamble, Intel and AMD—two companies that have been competing for years—have now joined forces. Why? Well, ARM processors are starting to show up where they weren’t invited: in laptops and PCs. And Intel and AMD are not happy about it.
Why Are Intel and AMD Suddenly Friends?
ARM processors are well known for running smartphones and tablets, but now they’re powering laptops and even some desktop computers. This is a big deal because ARM processors use less power and are very efficient. Apple was one of the first to jump on the ARM train when it ditched Intel chips for its own ARM-based Apple Silicon in MacBooks. The result? More battery life and faster performance. Yeah, that’s a problem if you’re Intel or AMD.
So, at the Lenovo Tech World 2024 conference, Intel and AMD announced they are teaming up to form something called the x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group. Sounds fancy, right? It’s basically a club where they’re gathering all the big tech names—Microsoft, Google, Meta—to ensure the x86 architecture (the one that’s powered most computers for decades) stays relevant.
Read More: Nvidia’s RTX 5090, 5080, and 5070 Set to Launch at CES 2025: Everything We Know So Far
Who’s in the x86 Club?
| Company | Role |
|---|---|
| Intel | Founding Member, Chip Maker |
| AMD | Founding Member, Chip Maker |
| Microsoft | Founding Member, Cloud Services |
| Founding Member, Cloud Services | |
| Meta | Founding Member, Social Media |
| Lenovo | Host of Tech World 2024 |
| Tim Sweeney | Epic Games Founder |
| Linus Torvalds | Creator of Linux |
It’s like the tech world’s version of “The Avengers.” They’re coming together to make sure ARM doesn’t run away with all the glory.
ARM
ARM has always been around, but it was happy in smartphones and tablets. Now, ARM is pushing into laptops and PCs, and the results are impressive. Apple’s move to ARM chips—called Apple Silicon—made a lot of people pay attention. Their MacBooks became faster and more power-efficient. Just look at the jump:
| MacBook Processor Transition | Year | Architecture | Performance Boost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel x86 | 2019 | x86 | N/A |
| ARM-based Apple Silicon (M1) | 2020 | ARM | 2-3x better performance(bb) |
This shift made Intel and AMD realize they couldn’t just sit back. ARM chips are creeping up in market share, and it’s not a good look for x86.
ARM’s Rise in the Laptop Market
ARM is gaining ground, slowly but surely. Check out its growth in the laptop processor market:
| Year | ARM Market Share in Laptops |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1% |
| 2020 | 5% |
| 2022 | 10% |
| 2024 | 15% (estimated) |
That’s still a small chunk, but it’s growing. And while 15% might not sound like a lot, in the world of billion-dollar markets, it’s a wake-up call.
The x86 Plan: Fight Back or Fade Away
Intel and AMD aren’t going down without a fight. Here’s the main goal of the x86 Advisory Group: make x86 chips better and easier to use for developers and customers. That’s it. They want to make sure that when someone builds software or hardware, they think of x86 first, not ARM.
The group is also looking at things like:
- Standardizing the platform so all x86 chips are consistent.
- Innovating within the architecture to keep it competitive.
- Interoperability, or making sure everything works together seamlessly. No headaches for developers.
Intel’s Panther Lake: The Future of x86?
Intel isn’t just sitting around. At the same conference where they announced the new group, they also hyped up Panther Lake, their next big chip. It’s built on Intel’s fancy new 18A node and is set to launch in 2025. Panther Lake is supposed to help Intel regain its reputation after some recent underwhelming releases.
Just look at what happened with Intel’s current Core Ultra 9 285K:
| Chip | Clock Speed | Thermal Issues | Power Consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra 9 285K | 5.5 GHz (peak) | Overheating, throttling | 125 Watts |
| AMD Ryzen 9 9800X3D | 5.4 GHz | Stable | 105 Watts |
The Core Ultra 9 285K had some performance problems, especially with heat, which is never a good sign for a “flagship” processor. Intel’s banking on Panther Lake to turn things around.
Also Read: Apple couldn’t tell fake iPhones from real ones, Two men scammed Apple out of $2.5M
AMD’s Play: Ryzen, But Not Resting
While Intel is putting a lot of eggs in the Panther Lake basket, AMD’s strategy is all about maintaining its lead with Ryzen chips. The Ryzen 9 9800X3D is shaping up to be another powerhouse, and AMD doesn’t want to give ARM any breathing room.
That said, AMD knows that ARM is a serious threat, especially with companies like Qualcomm making big moves in Windows PCs. So, they’re teaming up with Intel to strengthen the x86 ecosystem. As AMD CEO Lisa Su put it, the goal is to make sure x86 remains the “compute platform of choice”.
Linus Torvalds and Tim Sweeney: Why Are They Here?
Linus Torvalds, the guy who created Linux, and Tim Sweeney, the founder of Epic Games, are part of this advisory group too. Why? Because their voices carry weight in the tech world. Having these “luminaries” (yep, that’s the actual term) adds some street cred to the x86 cause.
Plus, who wouldn’t want to imagine these tech legends sitting in big leather chairs, wearing robes, and planning the future of computing?
Is x86 Doomed?
Not quite. While ARM is growing, x86 still dominates most PCs and data centers. But make no mistake: ARM is coming for more. Qualcomm is already proving that ARM-based chips can handle Windows PCs, and Apple’s success with ARM-based Macs shows that there’s a market for these efficient, powerful processors.
But here’s where x86 still wins:
- Raw Power: ARM chips are great for efficiency, but x86 chips still lead in sheer performance.
- Compatibility: x86 is everywhere, and switching from x86 to ARM isn’t exactly a piece of cake.
- Big Backers: With Microsoft, Google, and Meta on board, x86 has some serious support.
What’s Next for x86 vs. ARM?
The next few years will be telling. Intel’s Panther Lake chip and AMD’s continued success with Ryzen will play key roles. At the same time, ARM isn’t slowing down. Apple’s chips are only getting better, and Qualcomm is pushing its own ARM processors into more Windows PCs.
What’s next?
Intel and AMD teaming up is a big deal. It’s not something we see every day, and it shows just how serious ARM’s challenge is. Will this new alliance be enough to stop ARM’s momentum? Only time will tell. But for now, x86 isn’t backing down without a fight.
