V2 firmware 32-bit or 64-bit ?

dugby · Post by **dugby** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 13:16

Just running-in my new V2 and noticed the following in the
V2 Menu --> About

Chipset 3798MV200
CPU ARMv7

However the Hisilicon product data sheet refers to the chipset as ARM Cortex-A53, which is ARMv8 and 64-bit.
https://www.hisilicon.com/en/products/s ... i3798MV200

My question - Is the Beyonwiz V2 firmware running as 32-bit code (in compatibility mode) ? hence the V2 reports it as ARMv7.

MrQuade · Post by **MrQuade** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 15:14

dugby wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 21, 2022 13:16
My question - Is the Beyonwiz V2 firmware running as 32-bit code (in compatibility mode) ? hence the V2 reports it as ARMv7.

The CPU is running in 32 bit mode, though I wouldn't describe that as running in "compatibility mode", other than the CPU is compatible with 32 bit ARMv7 and is operating in 32 bit mode.

I am guessing this is just to maintain broader compatibility across more chipsets that run the enigma2 software. Easier if you stick to one lot of libraries to support across all devices.
Running 64 bit code probably doesn't offer enough of an additional benefit for normal PVR functions to offset the additional software support, unless the 64 bit drivers get more bug fixing attention from the manufacturer than the 32 bit ones do.

dugby · Post by **dugby** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 16:17

Thankyou for your reply.

Whilst researching the V2, I was surprised that the firmware nomenclature for both V2(ARMv8 64-bit) and U4(ARMv7 32-bit) seemed similar.

I previously worked for a company that created 32-bit and 64-bit chipsets and associated operating systems, and we had specific methodologies for version nomenclature.

Makes engineering sense to keep the firmware development simple, to the proven 32-bit code.

Regards