alt Hacker NewsHardware isn't much better actually. There isn't a good way I can show you this, but every x64 CPU contains an entire ARM CPU whose job is to initialize the x64 CPU. And of course it runs two operating systems - TrustZone and Minix.
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jerrysievert • last Friday at 1:35 AM
I remember being flabbergasted when I worked at the open source development lab and we got our first itanium system in, a multi-core, multi-rack nec system, with its own windows pc to boot up in order to get to linux.
graemep • last Thursday at 7:13 PM
I know IME runs on Minix but that is on a separate 32 bit x86 processor, AFAIK.
What does the ARM CPU do?
serpent • last Thursday at 7:03 PM
Really? That’s like a pony motor! :)
It's even worse than that.
The ARM Core starts up, does crypto, Loads the SecureOS and the BIOS, then it starts the x86 CPU - In 16 bit mode! Which then boostraps itself through 32 then 64 bit mode.
So in the first couple sends of power on, your CPU is at various points ARM, i386, x86, and x86_64.