Applications for x-86
For PC-like performance and high computing capabilities without bothering much about the power efficiency, system developers would prefer to have the x86-based solutions. Industrial motherboards used in automation and other applications that are expected to run a heavy operating system like Windows use x86-based platform.
Sharma shares, “When the list of peripherals that the user is looking for in the system is large, and he wants to avoid the cost of developing all those device drivers, he prefers to use an x86-based solution in order to leverage the already existing set of device drivers and peripherals.” However, a generic x86 is usually lesser-equipped and more expensive than other options available in the market.
The collection of peripherals gives a personality to the chip. “Today, processors are coming as system-on-chip with a large number of peripherals built into the die, giving a much cheaper, more appropriate alternative to the final product,” says Sharma.
Test and measurement equipment. Test and measurement equipment are highly complex embedded systems. These demand precision and accuracy, which is mostly real-time. There are a number of oscilloscopes using x86, as they have an inbuilt Windows XP operating system running beneath.
“x86 architecture-based Atom is also used in data-acquisition products. This is because readymade original equipment manufacturer (OEM) boards are easily available which meet the performance requirements,” Sinha shares.
