AMD and Intel recently revealed plans to work together in order to enhance and shape the future of x86 architecture. Analysts suggest that for data center operators, this collaboration could lead to improved performance for both software and hardware, as well as streamlined management of IT infrastructure.

On Tuesday, October 15, the two competing chip manufacturers announced the formation of an x86 ecosystem advisory group aimed at ensuring compatibility within the architecture, simplifying software development, and creating innovative, scalable solutions.

“This announcement probably surprised some people,” remarked Daniel Newman, CEO of the Futurum Group, a research and advisory firm. “It’s unprecedented to see these two companies collaborate in any capacity and agree on anything beyond x86 as an architecture.”

Major technology partners of AMD and Intel have also committed to this initiative, including Broadcom, Dell Technologies, Google Cloud, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Lenovo, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat.

At issue is the increased competition from Arm-based chips and the fact that while AMD and Intel use the same x86 instruction set architecture (ISA), they have historically approached things differently – including aspects like security and the implementation of AVX-512, a workload-specific accelerator that boosts the performance of AI and HPC workloads.

“The whole notion of commonality of x86 was starting to go down these two paths that weren’t 180 degrees out of phase, but they started to kind of drift into their own kind of specialized world,” said Matt Kimball, vice president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

This divergence has led software developers, such as Broadcom’s VMware and Nutanix, to adjust their source code to ensure compatibility with both Intel and AMD chips. The same applies to hardware manufacturers like HPE and Lenovo, which provide management software, as well as cloud service providers that construct software stacks and management platforms for their Intel and AMD ecosystems, according to Kimball.

In its announcement on Tuesday, Intel and AMD revealed that the new advisory group will aim to establish a unified set of instructions and architectural interfaces. This effort seeks to boost compatibility, predictability, and consistency across x86 products, while also outlining future directions for architectural improvements.

Specifically, the group has outlined three primary objectives: to improve compatibility between hardware and software while speeding up the introduction of innovative features; to streamline architectural guidelines for better software consistency and to standardize interfaces among x86 products from Intel and AMD; and to facilitate a more effective integration of new functions into operating systems, frameworks, and software.

According to Kimball, “If this advisory group – along with Intel and AMD – fulfills its potential, we can expect to see software that operates more efficiently, with the capability to run seamlessly across both platforms and enhanced functionalities included.”

IDC analyst Ashish Nadkarni supports this view, noting that it eliminates obstacles between AMD and Intel, thereby simplifying the process for independent software vendors to fine-tune their applications without concerns about the differences between the two platforms.

Nadkarni added, “For enterprises, this development means that it alleviates any friction or inconsistencies in the experience of running x86 applications on either AMD or Intel platforms.”

If the advisory group achieves its objectives, businesses and data center operators will find it easier to oversee their infrastructure, leading to more efficient CPU operations and enhanced software performance, Kimball stated.

“It’s simpler, more cost-effective, and provides better performance,” he mentioned. “It’s entirely beneficial. There’s virtually no downside to this for data center operators.”

For instance, the deployment of a combination of AMD and Intel server environments by enterprises has become increasingly common in recent years, as they recognize that one chip may excel in managing a specific workload, while another might be superior for a different task. In some instances, they opt to utilize both processors for running general-purpose workloads, according to him.

Nonetheless, these enterprises might currently encounter challenges when attempting to live migrate a VMware or Nutanix virtual machine (VM) from an AMD server to an Intel server due to underlying differences in the microarchitecture, Kimball noted.

More specifically, they won’t be able to live-migrate a virtual machine from an AMD server to an Intel server if the virtual machine utilizes AMD’s secure encrypted virtualization, as Intel has its own security measures for virtual machines. This compatibility issue could be resolved if Intel and AMD agree on a unified security solution, he stated.

Cloud service providers also gain from the interoperability initiatives between Intel and AMD. Improved compatibility allows them to optimize their software stacks and management platforms more effectively, resulting in lower operational costs, according to Kimball.

“They can streamline the development, testing, and deployment of their software stacks by employing a common set of instructions,” he remarked. “That would be a significant advantage, and it also implies they could offer more highly optimized instances to their clients.”

The partnership between AMD and Intel came as a surprise to many. However, industry analysts emphasized that their collaboration is logical and essential, particularly in light of the competitive threat that Arm presents in both the consumer and data center markets.

While x86 processors still dominate the data center landscape, Arm has been making strides with major cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure developing their own Arm-based CPUs. In addition, startups such as Ampere have recently entered the field.

Intel and AMD’s alliance highlights the robustness of Arm as a platform across PC, data center, and smartphone sectors, according to Newman’s insights from the Futurum Group. Despite this, both companies benefit from having a vast installed base and notable market presence. Through their newly established x86 advisory group, AMD and Intel aim to facilitate data center operators in utilizing x86 more effectively.

“This partnership focuses on enhancing the experience of x86 customers, fostering loyalty, and reducing the likelihood of their transition away from the platform,” Newman explained. “The enduring success of x86 will significantly benefit from simplification and providing a more user-friendly experience for customers.”

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