What's Intel gonna do?

[Jeff7181]

What's Intel gonna do when AMD releases it's Athlon-64? Do they have a 64 bit CPU in the works also? Or are they stuck on hyper-threading and think that will provide competition? And, what's Intel gonna do when there's a 64 bit version of Windows out and they don't have a 64 bit CPU? From what I read on the AnandTech site about the Hammer/Athlon-64, it will be competatively priced, no more expensive than Intel's high end CPU's.
I don't see how Intel can stay in the game if they don't develop a 64 bit CPU as well... anyone else have an opinion?

 

[THUGSROOK]

64bit linky

 

[rIpTOr]

64 bit for the Desktop isn't needed so Intel won't be bending over backwards to implement it.

 

[KH85]

64 Bit wont be need for a good few years probly at least 3 maybe even 5 or more as the normal user / game player will not need 64 Bit CPU's but still, they will be cool when they come out

 

[sc0tty8]

I belive this intel proc is already 64bit but I could be wrong. I remember reading about it when it first came out, wells-fargo and a bunch of colleges got to test it, there is also a 64 bit version of windows xp out there, and linux does support the 64 bit procs...when this intel proc first came out, the linux community was all buzzing that they had an OS that worked and on it, but M$ did not...A few distros did not work on the 64 bit proc though....

I do not see a need for this proc or any other 64 bit proc for quite some time....

 

[radioactiveballpoint]

Microsoft isn't going to have a X86-64 version of windows for a long time, so even with a 64bit proc you can't take full advantage of it. I don't know if 64bit .NET Server would run on a hammer because Intel and AMD's implementations might be different.

 

[BeaverTooth]

Intel does not right now have a 64-bit proc for the desktop, if you don't believe in Yamhill anyway. They have 64-bit proc's for servers but thats all. If AMD's Hammer line takes off Intel will put out a 64-bit CPU and it will NOT be compatible with AMD's 64-bit extensions so the industry will be faced with either supporting both or picking one over the other. The first seems unlikely because of the complications involved and bloat software would have to enable support for both 64-bit extensions and the second option does not favour AMD because of Intel's market share. The reason AMD made thier 3DNow! more in line with Intel's 3D code was market pressure to conform and AMD had to go along. It should be remembered that 3DNow! came along first that time as well.