Until now, programmers had to rely on IDT, for which the accurate technical adjectives are hacky and janky. IDT enabled only a half-assed transition from kernel code to application code, meaning programmers had to perform many other operations manually, be careful about edge cases, think about multiple ring levels, and work around potential race conditions (where two system events happen simultaneously and step over each other).
FRED improves on all fronts by providing one-shot instructions to guarantee a clean transition from kernel to application and back, with a consistent stack (the information about the event and where to continue execution). The main FRED instructions are atomic, meaning they execute all at once (or not at all), so programmers don't have to worry about an inconsistent state when they need to handle an interrupt. There's far less mental overhead, too, as there is much less to think about. Even the old ring levels are gone, being reduced to 0 (kernel) and 3 (user).
All told, this means that developers can just call on FRED and it'll do all the necessary work for them in one sitting, and no longer have to code their way around a lot of corner cases and theoretical issues. This should enable more stable kernels, system drivers, bootloaders, and other low-level software.
At least in theory, FRED is also bound to improve overall system performance, as it consumes fewer CPU cycles, resulting in lower event latency. These can add up under high load scenarios, like handling large network transfers, and perhaps even high-refresh-rate gaming and audio work — though potential uplifts will vary for each type of workload.
FRED will definitely be a performance boon for virtualization scenarios that have particularly involved event handling passing through multiple layers. The x86 architecture has long been criticized for holding on to legacy features for far too long, so it's good news that FRED is arriving soon.
Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News , or add us as a preferred source , to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.
Bruno Ferreira is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware. He has decades of experience with PC hardware and assorted sundries, alongside a career as a developer. He's obsessed with detail and has a tendency to ramble on the topics he loves. When not doing that, he's usually playing games, or at live music shows and festivals. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-13/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Bruno Ferreira Contributor Bruno Ferreira is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware. He has decades of experience with PC hardware and assorted sundries, alongside a career as a developer. He's obsessed with detail and has a tendency to ramble on the topics he loves. When not doing that, he's usually playing games, or at live music shows and festivals.
ekio Good to see x86 dropping some 40 years old rotten bits. But still waiting for ARM based AMD upcoming socs. x86 is a dead end, no matter what component is modernized. Reply
hotaru251 ekio said: x86 is a dead end except it isn't dead anytime soon. They need to lop off the anchor that is 32bit support though. Apple's already shown that translation layers work well if done correctly so you can emulate it for stuff that needs it while not having it actually weigh the architecture down. Reply
ravewulf Flintstone? (I'll see myself out) Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-adopts-fred-together-with-intel-for-zen-6-architecture-replacement-for-decades-old-idt-can-improve-performance-and-stability#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
- Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 9 290K Plus appears on Geekbench with chart-topping scores — Arrow Lake refresh beats the 285K by ~10% across single- and multithrea
- Western Digital unveils massive 40TB HDD with energy-assisted recording tech — plans 100TB HAMR hard drives by 2029
- How to Get Started With Visual Generative AI on NVIDIA RTX PCs
- SpaceX acquires xAI in a bid to make orbiting data centers a reality — Musk plans to launch a million tons of satellites annually, targets 1TW/year of space-bas
- Still using or redeploying an older PC during today’s RAM crisis? A new power supply could save you from an insane repair bill
Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.