What is x86?

What it means

A processor follows instructions, and each family of processors understands its own set of them. x86 is one such family, and it sits inside most desktop PCs, laptops and servers. Intel and AMD both make x86 chips, and software built for x86 runs on either.

The name x86-64 describes the 64-bit version, which is what you buy today. A different design, ARM, is common in phones and is spreading into laptops and servers. The two families do not run each other's programs directly. Some systems can translate x86 programs to run on ARM, but that is slower and does not work for everything, especially drivers.

Why it matters to a business

• Software compatibility: a program built for x86 will not simply run on a different processor family. Check that your key applications support the hardware before you buy it.
• Choice of hardware: many manufacturers sell x86 systems, so you can compare suppliers and replace parts without changing what your software needs.
• Virtual machines: a virtual machine normally runs the same processor family as the server underneath it, so an x86 host runs x86 systems.
• Older applications: x86 has a long history, so a line-of-business program that has not been updated in years usually still runs on it.

How this shows up in our work

We build and run Proxmox VE and Ceph clusters on x86 servers, and we run Kubernetes on Talos Linux. Before a migration or a hardware refresh, we check your business applications against the hardware and operating system you plan to use.

Learn more

• x86 on WikipediaA neutral overview of the instruction set family, its history and its variants, useful for anyone who wants the background.
• ARM architecture family on WikipediaAn overview of the main alternative to x86, helpful when you are comparing hardware choices.