# x86 core

**URL:** <https://forum.arduino.cc/t/x86-core/410185>\
**Category:** 101\
**Created:** [September 28, 2016, 10:39am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/x86-core/410185 "2016-09-28T10:39:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SmileyDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@SmileyDude](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/SmileyDude)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 10:39am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/x86-core/410185/1 "2016-09-28T10:39:48Z")

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Hi everyone --

Just picked up a 101 last night and I'm doing a little poking around with it. My understanding is that Arduino sketches run on the ARC core while the x86 core runs a RTOS that is responsible for handling the USB connection. I would like to be able to use the x86 core to run my own code, however. If I want to do that, would I need to flash a custom x86 firmware over to the device? Where is DFU mode implemented if I screw something up? I don't want to end up with a brick because of a bug in my code 😃

I noticed there is what looks like a standard AVR ICSP header on the board along with a tiny 2x5 header up near the reset button. Can either of these be used with a programmer of some sort to reflash firmware?

Sorry if these questions are answered elsewhere. I went through around 12 pages of the forum last night, along with reading through a good chunk of the data sheet as well.

Thanks!  
dennis

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**Author:** ![facchinm](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/facchinm/32/220036_2.png) [@facchinm](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/facchinm)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 11:05am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/x86-core/410185/2 "2016-09-28T11:05:40Z")

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Hi Dennis,  
you can hack the x86 core really safely 😃 DFU is fully implemented in bootloader so the only chance to brick a board is if you want to modify if.  
The ICSP header is only used to broke out SPI for shields, while the tiny 5x2 header is a jtag port compatible with any JTAG programmer (I personally use Flyswatter2 and it works great).  
If you don't need a debugger and you are not going to hack the bootloader you can safely use the DFU upload procedure  
Some interesting resources to get started:  
[https://github.com/01org?query=CODK](https://github.com/01org?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=CODK)  
CODK codes are explained [here](https://software.intel.com/en-us/node/674972)

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**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/x86-core/410185/3 "2021-05-06T18:04:35Z")

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Closed on May 6, 2021, 6:04pm UTC