AMD 64 bit - just how good?

[wjgollatz]

Just how important is AMD's 64 bit chip for future use - for the upcoming 64 bit software? I am looking for a notebook DTR - and right now - only the AMD offers this 64 bit chip. Is it important as a DTR for use in the future to delay its eventual obsolesence? I have become stuck looking for AMD 64 laptops - that are affordable (with other amenities such as a good graphics card). It seems that software waits for the hardware to catch up, but the AMD 64 seems to be going the other way. Although it is 64 bit - how well does it run, since there is no operating system (save the Linux version) or software for it yet? (if there is - its extremely small and Windows is only testing there software now).

I understand that the AMD 64 does go a slight bit faster than the Pentiums, but I don't need to see Doom 3 5 FPS more than a Pentium, because I will never play Doom three on a laptop.

 

[n0cmonkey]

It works fine with 32bit software.
The biggest benefits don't come from the 64bit-ness, IMO.
64bit isn't a huge deal for most users.

 

[wjgollatz]

Will 64 bit be a much bigger deal in 4-8 years from now? And since I posted - I learned tha Windows XP 64 is basically for servers it seems, not a replacement for XP 32 bit. And if operating systems to go to 64 bit - with the AMD 64 - be able to operate that software any better than a current Intel - for the reason that the software isn't even out yet - and this is the first comemrcial introduction of a 64 bit chip.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I think 64bit will be necessary in 2037. I won't make a prediction for what will happen before then. 🙂

 

[OffTopic1]

The introduction to 32bit on x86 hardware was 1985, and it wasn't utilized untill the introduction of Windows 95/NT4. If history repeat it self, it would take at least 8 more years for software to catch up to the current x86 64bit hardware.

 

[dawks]

Originally posted by: OffTopic

The introduction to 32bit on x86 hardware was 1985, and it wasn't utilized untill the introduction of Windows 95/NT4. If history repeat it self, it would take at least 8 more years for software to catch up to the current x86 64bit hardware.

You cant really use that idea here. Technology is progressing at an exponential rate for one thing.

Also the difference between the jump from 16bit to 32bit was much larger and different then the jump from 32bit to 64bit will be.

As said above, most users won't really see a benefit from 64bit itself. Its the additional features on the 64bit AMD's that make them more attractive (1meg L2 cache for ex).

Windows XP 64bit is NOT for servers. Its for professionals working on very large amounts of data, ie, projects that require more then 2-'4' gigs of memory.

Windows XP 64 should work fine for home use once it goes gold, and driver support is there. But its not going to give you higher framerates, or better image quality in Doom3, nor is it going to make firefox or IE any faster.

Will 64 bit be a much bigger deal in 4-8 years from now? And since I posted - I learned tha Windows XP 64 is basically for servers it seems, not a replacement for XP 32 bit. And if operating systems to go to 64 bit - with the AMD 64 - be able to operate that software any better than a current Intel - for the reason that the software isn't even out yet - and this is the first comemrcial introduction of a 64 bit chip.

Intel has had a 64bit chip out for a while longer then AMD, the Itanium. The problem with it, is that it has a whole new instruction set. Programs have to really be rewritten to work properly on those processors. The advantage of AMD-64 processors is that its easier to port from 32bit, plus 32bit programs run nicely on AMD CPU's. Intels new 64bit processors will actually be borrowing from AMD this time, so they will be compatible with AMD-64.

Basically go for the AMD-64 if you dont mind the higher price, heavier and hotter laptop. Otherwise a nice Pentium-M will do just fine IMO.

 

[CQuinn]

History won't repeat itself, the circumstances are already too different.

There wasn't a corresponding effort to get 64-bit development tools into the hands of programmers
in 1985, or to enable a quick transition from 32-bit to 64-bit drivers. There also weren't many
applications that were being developed with the idea of benefiting in some way from going to 32-bits.

The inital benefit of the 80386 was greater speed than the 286, and the ability to switch from
real to virtual86 mode (and back). Those benefits didn't need a 32-bit OS at the time.

While one of the benefits of the AMD64 line is improved speed, the feature that has some
developers interested is the extra registers that are enabled in 64-bit mode. Which makes
the platform and interesting choice for the few apps that are already pushing close to the
limits of 32-bits.

There are already OSes available that can take advantage of AMD64 in 64-bit modes. That
will increase competition for others to come out.

 

[lolgloin]

64-bit is just the next step in technology. A few more years down the line and you'll see 128-bit.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
It works fine with 32bit software.
The biggest benefits don't come from the 64bit-ness, IMO.
64bit isn't a huge deal for most users.

Oh yea, like that's a really gutsy prediction, basing it on Unix time.😛

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
It works fine with 32bit software.
The biggest benefits don't come from the 64bit-ness, IMO.
64bit isn't a huge deal for most users.

Oh yea, like that's a really gutsy prediction, basing it on Unix time.😛

Thats kinda funny, since Linux has OSes that will run just fine in native AMD64 bit mode, but MS doesn't have one yet.

Oh, and my prediction is that WinXP-64 will never realy exist outside beta, and when it does get released it is going to be called "longhorn", or whatever the OS being released sometime around 2006 will be.

 

[dguy6789]

64 bit will be all that games and os are written on by 2010, and I can guarentee that. The registers are one thing about 64 bit. The exta memory is what is going to be needed. 4GB of ram in 2010 will be what 32MB is now. And 32bit cpus can only use 4GB of ram. So the move to 64 bit will be needed.