OT: AMD 64

Atrocities · #1 May 12th, 2004, 10:29 PM

Does any one know about this?

AMD64 is hoped to improve the performance for many applications by evolving the industry standard X86 architecture from 32 to 64 bit computing thus allowing softwar to process and acess more data than is currently bossible with 32-bit computing.

www.amd.com

I recall talk of this when I was working, but all indications pointed toward Intel as being the first to market with a 64 bit chit. If AMD pulls this off, what benefit can we see in the short term. Right now most games are 32 bit and we would see no benefit from the 64 bit architecture.

Any thoughts on this?

Phoenix-D · #2 May 12th, 2004, 11:36 PM

-If- AMD pulls this off? Its already out.

Atrocities · #3 May 13th, 2004, 01:10 AM

Poor choice of words. I had been planning on posting this for a while and never got around to it. So shoot me if it is a tad oudated. Still, what do you think of it?

If they can do 64 then how long until 128?

Thermodyne · #4 May 13th, 2004, 01:37 AM

I've been running an FX 51 since Last November. I tested 64 bit server on it. While the FX is a step up for AMD, and 64 bit is on the way, it's not ready for prime time yet. Win XP 64 is months off, and apps will be a while after that. But with Intel scrapping projects and moving to 64 bit (AMD Version, not Itanic) it will be the next "thing" in PC's, IMHO of course.

dogscoff · #5 May 13th, 2004, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Win XP 64 is months off, and apps will be a while after that.

What about other OSes? I would imagine that the open source community (ie Linux) might react a bit quicker than Microsoft.

Thermodyne · #6 May 13th, 2004, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dogscoff:

quote:

Win XP 64 is months off, and apps will be a while after that.

What about other OSes? I would imagine that the open source community (ie Linux) might react a bit quicker than Microsoft.

Yep, you can do Nix64 now, driver support is an issue still, and there are not enough apps to bother with it. Talk is that some FPS games will be the first apps to ship in 64bit.

rdouglass · #7 May 13th, 2004, 03:32 PM

IIRC that was AMD's (supposed) big advantage over Intel's 64 bit processor; the software. AMD's allowed you to use current 32 bit S/W whereas Intel's required total rewrite of software.

Just my $.02

EDIT: Does anyone remember all the issues when mainstream OS's went from 16 bit to 32 bit?

[ May 13, 2004, 14:34: Message edited by: rdouglass ]

Baron Munchausen · #8 May 13th, 2004, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dogscoff:

quote:

Win XP 64 is months off, and apps will be a while after that.

What about other OSes? I would imagine that the open source community (ie Linux) might react a bit quicker than Microsoft.

Not only is Linux 64-bit ready, and has been for years... Linux is 128-bit ready! Yes, you could compile and run it on a 128-bit processor if they are available (I presume some exotic workstations exist with this sort of processor).