Re: [PATCH] [RFC] x86/cpu: rework instruction set selection

[Ingo Molnar]

* Arnd Bergmann <arnd@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

> CMOV is missing not just on old Socket 5/7 CPUs (Pentium MMX, AMD K6, 
> Cyrix MII) but also newer embedded Via C3, Geode GX and 
> Vortex86DX/MX/EX/DX2. The replacement Nehemiah (2003), GeodeLX (2005) 
> and Vortex86DX3/EX2 (2015!) have CMOV, but the old ones were sold 
> alongside them for years, and some of the 586-class Vortex86 products 
> are still commercially available.

Very few (if any) of the commercially available products will run 
modern 6.16+ kernels, right?

Note that the real danger the 32-bit x86 kernel is going to be facing 
in 2-5 years is total removal due to lack of development interest, but 
I think we can support 686+ reasonably far into the future, and can 
keep it tested reasonably - while covering like 99%+ of the currently 
available 32-bit-only x86 products on the market. The fewer variants, 
the better.

Thanks,

	Ingo