Re: Hmmm... @Roo
"I think that you should say were plenty of non-x86 processors out there."
There are still plenty out there, not all of them will be a viable alternative for your application...
"There really aren't any more, with just AMD (which is an x86 derivative, but may not be affected),"
In my view AMD share the same problem as Intel: The x86 ISA (64bits, extensions, warts and all) are simply too complex to test properly. It's a scalability limit in the design space - and this isn't a new problem - it goes back decades. We are seeing bugs span multiple steppings AND generations of product line as a matter of routine. The x86 vendors are physically unable to sell us a fully functional chip even if we pay top dollar for it.
As I see it, as customers, we have no alternative but to go to other ISAs over the long run - simply to get a working chip without the "feature-itis" imposed by 30+ years worth of workarounds.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
