32- versus 64-bit computing speed...

[homercles337]

Why does everyone seem to ignore the theoretical increased speed when moving from 32- to 64-bit processors? Of course there is the address space increase, but shouldnt a 64-bit processor be twice the speed of a 32-bit processor with the same clock? This is more of a theoretical question since i have never personally seen an increase in computing speed with 32- v 64-bit machines running the same application (this goes for windows and *nix). Nonetheless, it should be true, right? If not, what am i missing?

 

[homercles337]

Is this too "technical" for general hardware? Mod, maybe this should be moved to Highly Technical?

 

[LightningRider]

64bit code is a little faster when done right than 32bit code although the compiled size is also higher by very slight amounts.

It is not twice as fast just because 64 is 32 doubled.

 

[clickynext]

Not sure about what's possible theoretically, but the 64-bit version of HL2 is pretty much the same speed as the 32-bit version, and this applies to pretty much all software I've seen so far using Vista 64-bit.

 

[RebateMonger]

64-bit generally means two things:
1) Increased memory addressing capacity
2) Increased Word size

Many computing operations can't take advantage of the increased Word size. Lots of instructions and data will fit into an 8-bit Word, or, certainly, a 16-bit or 32-bit length.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: homercles337
shouldnt a 64-bit processor be twice the speed of a 32-bit processor with the same clock?

No, being able to execute a more detailed instruction is not the same as executing two half-sized instructions concurrently. You're missing all the overheads such as process metadata, address space yadda yadda that each sequential process generates. It's not as simple as packing two of them into the one space, it means that you've got the potential for doing more at a given time, not necessarily two things at a time.

 

[homercles337]

Does anyone have any articles they can point me to? Or is this something that requires a degree EECS to fully comprehend?

 

[JackMDS]

Many aspects involving client computers are geared toward scenarios that are important in the Scientific, and Corporate Business world.

Some of these scenarios are not even imaginable by End-Users. However, End-Users hear about it and in order to be "Cool" start to use it and get disappointment.

Try to Network few computer using 32bit OS, and do a "mock" extensive Data Basing.

Then reformat and install 64bit OS, and 64-bit database.

Then get few friends together and start the use the little Network the way business use it and you would see a difference.

Here is a page showing some aspect of performance, http://www.microsoft.com/techn...es/2006/05/InsideMSFT/

Find a CAD drawing program that is 64bit designed and you would see the difference.

Actually, even regular Internet surfing is a little smoother when it is all 64bit (OS and Browser).

However, if you run regular application on one single computer why do you expect to see notable difference?

Do a Live Search/Google for the term, 32bit OS compare 64bit OS

You would find among a lot of nonsense few articles that might help to enlighten you better than I did.