Is an Athlon 64 made up of two 32-bit cores?

[homestarmy]

A friend of mine at work here at the helpdesk says that the Athlon 64 is made up of two completely different 32-bit cores with their own cache (meaning that if it has 512KB of cache, it has 512KB x 2).

I was fairly certain that this is incorrect. Can someone please confirm this?

A map of the processor makeup would be excellent if anyone can find it.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
A friend of mine at work here at the helpdesk says that the Athlon 64 is made up of two completely different 32-bit cores with their own cache (meaning that if it has 512KB of cache, it has 512KB x 2).

I was fairly certain that this is incorrect. Can someone please confirm this?

A map of the processor makeup would be excellent if anyone can find it.

Thanks a lot!

He is very very wrong...
The A64 is a single 64/32 bit core. The reason it's able to run both 32bit and 64 bit software is that it can run in 3 states
1. 32 bit
2. 64 bit
3. Hybrid (both)

A dual core A64 (X2) is 2 of those cores, each with their own cache. All AMD processors currently made (I believe the older Semprons have been EOLed) run both 32 and 64 bit on each and every core...

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Viditor

Originally posted by: homestarmy
A friend of mine at work here at the helpdesk says that the Athlon 64 is made up of two completely different 32-bit cores with their own cache (meaning that if it has 512KB of cache, it has 512KB x 2).

I was fairly certain that this is incorrect. Can someone please confirm this?

A map of the processor makeup would be excellent if anyone can find it.

Thanks a lot!

He is very very wrong...
The A64 is a single 64/32 bit core. The reason it's able to run both 32bit and 64 bit software is that it can run in 3 states
1. 32 bit
2. 64 bit
3. Hybrid (both)

A dual core A64 (X2) is 2 of those cores, each with their own cache. All AMD processors currently made (I believe the older Semprons have been EOLed) run both 32 and 64 bit on each and every core...

Correct. The OP's friends needs to conduct some more research.

 

[Nocturnal]

That is a normal help desk know it all for you. I suggest not arguing with the guy.

 

[programmer]

Isn't it Intel's current "dual-core" chips that are essentially two 32-bit cores linked together on a single die? Maybe that is what your friend is thinking of. AMD's Athlon 64 is a single core 32/64-bit chip.

 

[nyker96]

following the same logic, 64bit AMD bit could be 64 1 bit chips or 8 8bit chips or 128 1/2bit chips...

 

[robertk2012]

lol where do people get this "information" from?

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: robertk2012
lol where do people get this "information" from?

amd forums?

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: nyker96
following the same logic, 64bit AMD bit could be 64 1 bit chips or 8 8bit chips or 128 1/2bit chips...

I would like to hire to you create a 1/2 bit microprocessor. We could make bajillions, and sell them to the underpants gnomes!