"The Great Chip" Reading Activity 9 Chapter 2

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"The Great Chip" Reading Activity 9 Chapter 2 [Copy link]

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Thanks to the Electronic Engineering World website, thanks to China Industry and Information Technology Publishing Group, thanks to the author Wang Jian, thanks to the Electronics Industry Press, and thanks to the Electronic Engineering World Forum eeworld!

Thanks for the trial reading opportunity!

Continued from the previous eight articles:

"The Great Chip" reading activity 1 Read new books https://en.eeworld.com/bbs/thread-1247499-1-1.html

"The Great Chip" Reading Activity 2 Chapter 9 (I) https://en.eeworld.com/bbs/thread-1249129-1-1.html

"The Great Chip" Reading Activity 3 Chapter 8 eew_V04Cyi https://en.eeworld.com/bbs/thread-1251085-1-1.html

"The Great Chip" Reading Activity 4 Chapter 8 (Part 2) https://en.eeworld.com/bbs/thread-1251095-1-1.html

"Amazing Chips" reading activity 5 New materials https://en.eeworld.com/bbs/thread-1257305-1-1.html

"Amazing Chips" reading activity 6: Become a chip engineer https://en.eeworld.com/bbs/thread-1257436-1-1.html

"Amazing Chips" reading activity 7 Characteristics of chip design engineers https://en.eeworld.com/bbs/thread-1257438-1-1.html

"The Great Chip" Reading Activity 8 Chapter 1 https://en.eeworld.com/bbs/thread-1258064-1-1.html

Continue reading "Amazing Chips" is published by China Industry and Information Technology Publishing Group and Electronics Industry Press, written by Wang Jian.

After studying the introduction of instruction sets in this chapter, I have a deeper understanding of this abstract concept. Instruction sets can be regarded as the "language" of computer processors. They are the interface between processors and operating systems and applications. Different instruction sets represent different computer architectures, which also means different computing power and efficiency. In the deep sea of computer science, instruction sets are both mysterious and critical. They are the DNA of programs, the bridge between hardware and software, and the only way for processors to understand and execute commands. In the recent learning process, I have studied the three mainstream instruction sets of RISC-V, x86 and ARM in depth, so as to have a deeper understanding and cognition of instruction sets. The x86 architecture is jointly owned by AMD and Intel and is widely used in the PC and server fields. Its ecology is the most mature. ARM operates in a licensing mode and is widely used in mobile devices and other embedded systems. Its low power consumption and high efficiency make it absolutely dominant in the field of mobile devices. RISC-V is an open source instruction set. Its open source characteristics have made it warmly welcomed in academia and startups.

First of all, starting with RISC-V, this open source instruction set architecture has attracted great attention in the industry. The uniqueness of RISC-V lies in its minimalist design concept, which minimizes the complexity of hardware and makes it easier to produce and maintain. At the same time, the open source nature of RISC-V allows anyone to customize and improve it, and this flexibility is extremely attractive to some companies that need customized solutions. The core competitiveness of RISC-V lies in its minimalist and flexible architecture, as well as the resulting high efficiency and low energy consumption. I have a deep understanding of the open source characteristics of RISC-V. Open source not only means the sharing and accessibility of technology, but also represents a spirit of cooperation and community. As the article says, "Many chip design companies also make profits by selling RISC-V-based processor IP." This model breaks the traditional hardware business model and provides a new platform for innovation.
Secondly, let's explore the x86 instruction set. x86 is the most widely used instruction set architecture, which is famous for its backward compatibility. Backward compatibility means that new processors can understand and execute old program codes, which is a huge advantage for many old software. In addition, the versatility and performance optimization of the x86 architecture also make it dominant in high-performance computing fields such as servers and workstations. However, this wide compatibility and versatility also brings about the complexity of hardware design and the increase of production costs. At the same time, I also realized the importance of instruction sets and their impact on the entire computing ecosystem. The success of an instruction set depends not only on its performance and efficiency, but also on whether it can build a healthy ecosystem. A good instruction set should not only meet the needs of users, but also promote the development of the entire industry.
Finally, let's take a look at the ARM instruction set. ARM is a low-power, high-performance instruction set architecture that is particularly suitable for mobile devices and embedded systems. Its low power consumption advantage allows devices to run longer, and also makes devices thinner and more portable. ARM's business model is to license it to other companies so that other companies can produce and sell processors based on the ARM architecture. This model allows ARM to promote its technology globally, while also providing other companies with opportunities to make profits.
I would like to share some of my new insights and reflections. After comparing and analyzing these three instruction sets, I deeply feel that the design of instruction sets involves not only technical issues, but also business strategies and market needs. Each instruction set has its own unique advantages and applicable fields. We cannot simply judge which instruction set is better or worse. Instead, we should start from practical applications and choose the most appropriate instruction set according to specific needs and scenarios. In addition, I also recognize the importance of the ecosystem. Whether it is the open source community of RISC-V or the commercial ecology of x86 and ARM, the success of each instruction set is inseparable from a healthy and active ecosystem. The ecosystem provides hardware and software support so that the instruction set can be better applied in practice. But in fact, RISC-V is an open source instruction set architecture, which represents the concept of opening hardware design and instruction set architecture to the public to encourage innovation and collaboration. This view made me re-examine the power of the open source hardware community and how this power promotes the progress of hardware design. The instruction set is the core of the computer architecture, and its design and selection directly affect the performance, efficiency and ecology of the computer. As a strategy, open source will lead the development direction of the computer hardware industry.
Finally, for future development, I believe that various instruction sets will learn from each other and complement each other. The open source nature of RISC-V will also bring new possibilities for processor design. However, with the advancement and development of technology, new instruction set architectures will continue to emerge. I am full of expectations for the future of our country's independently developed LoongArch instruction set. The emergence of LoongArch marks a new breakthrough in our country's independently developed hardware technology, and the open concept it advocates also allows me to see unlimited possibilities. I believe that as long as we can make full use of this openness and actively build partnerships, LoongArch will definitely occupy a place in the global hardware market.

In general, this chapter gave me a deeper understanding of the instruction set ecosystem, business model, and the differences and potential between various instruction sets. I have a deeper understanding and cognition of instruction sets. Each instruction set has its unique advantages and characteristics, and has its applicable scenarios and needs. The development of instruction sets will continue to find a balance between performance, power consumption, compatibility, and flexibility. I look forward to the emergence of more innovative instruction set architectures in the future, bringing us more excellent products and services. In fact, the instruction set is an ecosystem that is constantly developing and progressing. Various instruction sets are learning from each other to promote the development of the entire industry. This dynamic nature has given me a deeper understanding of the importance and influence of instruction sets. I also realized the importance of open source hardware and independent research and development and future development trends. This is a very meaningful exploration and learning for both my career and the development of the global hardware market. In the future, I look forward to seeing more discussions and practices on open source hardware and independent research and development, and jointly promoting the progress and development of the global hardware industry.
Thank you!

Jacktang

I feel that the author has indeed carefully studied the three mainstream instruction sets of RISC-V, x86 and ARM, and thus has a deeper understanding and cognition of instruction sets.

Thank you for sharing your own insights