CybserSecurity News

Tag: x86

  • 86Box 5.0 Arrives with a Built-in VM Manager, Resurrecting Retro PC Hardware

    The 86Box project has released version 5.0 of its x86-based computer emulator, enabling users to run legacy operating systems and applications ranging from the IBM PC 5150 to the IBM PS/2. The emulator supports an extensive array of processors—from the 8086 to the Intel Celeron Mendocino. Written in C, the code is distributed under the GPLv2 license.

    86Box offers highly detailed emulation of hardware components and peripherals, including video adapters, sound and network cards, and hard disk controllers. It supports dozens of operating systems, from MS-DOS and Windows 3.11/95 to OS/2, BeOS, and NEXTSTEP.

    The centerpiece of this release is the integrated virtual machine manager, which allows environments to be launched and configured directly within the 86Box interface, eliminating the need for external configurators. Virtual machines are stored in the directory ~/.local/share/86Box/Virtual Machines.

    Significant improvements have been made to interface responsiveness and mouse fluidity, particularly on high-refresh-rate displays.

    The rendering component has been rewritten for OpenGL 3.0, introducing shader effects, support for the glslp format, and parameter customization directly through the GUI.

    Hardware emulation has been further expanded with the addition of dozens of PC models based on 8086, 286, 386, 486, and later processors. Among them are rare systems such as the Atari PC 3, Dell System 333s/L, IBM PS/55 Model 5550, and Compaq Presario 486.

    The roster of supported video cards has also grown, now including the JVGA, Yamaha V6355D, ATI VGA Wonder 1024D XL Plus, Quantum3D Raven, and more.

    In the audio subsystem, new additions include the Gravis UltraSound MAX ISA, Creative EMU8000 PnP, Sound Blaster ViBRA 16CL, Ensoniq AudioPCI (ES1370), and several other rare boards.

    Support has also been added for early Panasonic/Matsushita CD-ROM drives that rely on proprietary interfaces, as well as for MDS/MDF disk image formats.

    The interface now features a dark mode for Windows, keyboard and refresh-rate indicators, and a flexible hotkey system for managing emulation.

  • AMD said about the ARM architecture will replace the x86 architecture

    After Apple announced the launch of the ARM-based MacBook, the desktop processor and processor micro-architecture system market was once again disturbed and caused fierce competition.

    After Qualcomm and Microsoft jointly launched the Windows 10 ARM device, there was more criticism due to performance issues, so no one thought that ARM would replace x86.

    However, the situation is different after Apple has made this choice because Apple has strong technical strength in ARM architecture processors and is capable of solving performance problems.

    Therefore, whether the ARM architecture will replace the traditional x86 architecture in the future is worthy of attention. AMD said that it has no fear of competition and the best defense is an offense.

    Linux kernel AMD 7nm Zen2

    AMD Chief Technology Officer Mark Papermaster recently expressed his views on the micro-architecture system. The media asked Mark how he views the rapid rise of the ARM ecosystem.

    At present, the ARM ecosystem has also begun to put pressure on the x86 architecture in the server and other markets. For example, ARM Neoverse v1 has even achieved performance close to x86 processors.

    ARM also promises to bring 30% performance growth every year, so how should x86 architecture processor manufacturers such as AMD maintain their advantages in the high-performance field?

    In this regard, Mark said that the company’s pursuit of performance will never brake, although the x86 and ARM architecture instruction sets are naturally different this is not the root of the problem.

    Regardless of the simplified instruction set or the complex instruction set, the pursuit of performance must be based on the premise of increasing transistors. AMD has its own reasons for sticking to the x86 architecture.

    The reason is that the x86 architecture has a huge software technology, and at the same time, in terms of the tools and technical resources mastered, it can be optimized and improved at the fastest speed and shortcut.

    Even in the face of competition, AMD will not be afraid, because AMD is born with the competition, not afraid or hope that this situation will change in the future.

    Finally, Mark concluded that in the face of market competition and competition in the ARM ecosystem, the best defense is to take the initiative to attack, and the only offense can maintain its advantage.