Well, the time for my once-every-three-years upgrade is coming soon (around springtime), and I want to start researching now. I don't want to cut any corners as I have in the past.
For my last build, 'bout 2 and a half years ago, I switched to an AMD product for the first time, and I've been very happy with it. I currently run with an Athlon XP 1600 and my machine generally performs like a champ (very cool since I only paid $55 for the processor).
However, my new hobby is video encoding and editing. I encode MP4 (XviD) and/or MPEG as well as audio almost daily, so for perhaps the first time a no-holds-barred processor is truly warranted for me. Also, since these encoding jobs take a good bit of time, multitasking is very important for me.
So ... to the point: Now we have these 64-bit processors available. I'd just like to be started off with a relatively simple explanation of what exactly this means in practical terms. I ask this because as I read about the 64-bit CPUs, I see phrases like "limited driver availability." So, I'm wanting to know if I can run all the same things I always have with a 64-bit processor. Keep in mind, I use a LOT of open-source software. What's this about needing special drivers? Is that just for hardware devices?
As with most people, I'll want to put something together that will be somewhat upgradeable. To this day, I've never been able to just replace a processor; I've had to get a whole new mobo every time. But that's really a secondary concern. Right now, I just want to understand 64-bit processors and figure out if they're for me, and if not .... what is?
I plan on just buying a mobo, processor, and a 1 GIG stick of Crucial RAM (possibly adding more later). Everything else in my box is fairly up to date, though I might also consider an SATA hard drive.
Keeping in mind that I use lots of open-source software (probably 75-100 little freeware apps) and that I need good multitasking, is the AMD 64 for me?
Thanks!
-abs
For my last build, 'bout 2 and a half years ago, I switched to an AMD product for the first time, and I've been very happy with it. I currently run with an Athlon XP 1600 and my machine generally performs like a champ (very cool since I only paid $55 for the processor).
However, my new hobby is video encoding and editing. I encode MP4 (XviD) and/or MPEG as well as audio almost daily, so for perhaps the first time a no-holds-barred processor is truly warranted for me. Also, since these encoding jobs take a good bit of time, multitasking is very important for me.
So ... to the point: Now we have these 64-bit processors available. I'd just like to be started off with a relatively simple explanation of what exactly this means in practical terms. I ask this because as I read about the 64-bit CPUs, I see phrases like "limited driver availability." So, I'm wanting to know if I can run all the same things I always have with a 64-bit processor. Keep in mind, I use a LOT of open-source software. What's this about needing special drivers? Is that just for hardware devices?
As with most people, I'll want to put something together that will be somewhat upgradeable. To this day, I've never been able to just replace a processor; I've had to get a whole new mobo every time. But that's really a secondary concern. Right now, I just want to understand 64-bit processors and figure out if they're for me, and if not .... what is?
I plan on just buying a mobo, processor, and a 1 GIG stick of Crucial RAM (possibly adding more later). Everything else in my box is fairly up to date, though I might also consider an SATA hard drive.
Keeping in mind that I use lots of open-source software (probably 75-100 little freeware apps) and that I need good multitasking, is the AMD 64 for me?
Thanks!
-abs
