The 64-bit chips
Summary Description What's the point of 64-bit processors and when will they hit the market? Newswire's 5 Minute Guides investigates.
Author

Publication

Roullas Top10 Simon Vandore

Newswire
No


Editorial InformationArticle Location
Article Topic 5 Minute Guides
Story Order
Story Group 000820
Post Date 21/08/2000 07:54 AM Status Posted Entered by Simon Vandore on 16/08/2000 01:58 PM


ImagesLead Picture


Heading Image




Content
Introduction


Body
I read that AMD and Intel are developing 64-bit processors. So what?
Moving to 64 bits means greater efficiency in processing large amounts of information and huge files, by taking bigger 'gulps' of data at a time. It will enable machines to address terabytes of memory, rather than just gigabytes or megabytes.
A 64-bit processor can address a memory space 264 bits (or 18.44 terabytes) large. In comparison, today's 32-bit chips handle 232 bit (or 4.29 gigabyte) memory spaces. A fast 32-bit chip is more than enough for most tasks, until you enter the realm of huge databases, large-scale Internet transaction processing and high-end imaging applications.
In 1997, Intel announced the IA-64 architecture, which it began developing in 1994 in partnership with Hewlett-Packard. The first IA-64 implementation brought to market will be the Itanium processor (formerly codenamed Merced) and the second is codenamed McKinley.
Last year AMD began touting an alternative technology, x86-64, and the first AMD chip is codenamed Sledgehammer.
What's the difference between these processors?
Itanium is a totally new processor architecture for Intel, and it has a new instruction set. It's aimed at the high-end server market and Intel is assisting software companies to develop new operating systems and software development platforms specifically for Itanium, because it will require 64-bit apps.
Sledgehammer aims to compete in the high-end market, but AMD has also announced it is working on successor to the current Athlon, known internally as 'the hammer', which will bring 64-bit computing to the desktop (there is still another generation of the Athlon, codenamed Mustang, to be introduced in the meantime). This model will be backwards compatible with 32-bit computing, switching between 64-bit and 32-bit as necessary -- it may even need to contain both 32-bit and 64-bit chips in a single processor package. AMD aims to allow users to adopt 64-bit apps at their own pace rather than making a huge leap to new technology.
When will 64-bit processors go on sale?
Unfortunately, the Itanium has suffered several delays. It was due to be launched in mid-2000, but the deadline has slipped to nearer the end of the year. Even then, only 'pilot systems' will be available and Itaniums (or should that be Itania?) won't hit the mass market until early 2001. Sledgehammer will probably be even later.
Intel's explanation is that it needs to make another revision to the chip to ensure it is absolutely ready for market demands. Some experts predict there could be further delays as computer manufacturers get up to speed with Itanium's system requirements. McKinley is still scheduled to arrive in mid-2001, but the Itanium delays make this seem unlikely.
Is it really necessary to have all that power?
In the long run, 64-bit computing will be vital for processing online transactions. Intel's IA-64 division designed Itanium with ecommerce and security in mind: it is optimised for heavy Internet-style transaction processing and features encryption acceleration based on 1,024-bit key security. These technologies could eliminate the delays currently experienced when conducting secure credit card transactions on the Internet, making online shopping a more attractive proposition. Elsewhere, 64-bit processing is ideal for massive databases and image manipulation in programs like Photoshop (which was among the first to move to 32-bit). Scalability has also been a big issue for the Itanium designers, in catering for large server farms such as those used to serve applications to thin clients, where up to 512 Itaniums could theoretically operate in chain formation.
Is anybody else making 64-bit chips?
Yes, Compaq's Alpha (developed by Digital) is a 64-bit processor. Sun has developed the 64-bit UltraSPARC processor for its Unix boxes.
So when will my desktop PC have a 64-bit processor?
Probably not for a very long time. Even then, you might not use 64-bit applications on your 64-bit processor. Just as it took a long time for the software industry to adapt to 32-bits, it will be a while before 64-bit programming techniques become commonplace. The 386 and 486 processors were 32-bit, but it wasn't until the Pentium and the introduction of Windows 95 that 32-bit applications appeared in numbers.
You'll need a 64-bit operating system to get 64-bit performance. Microsoft has demonstrated a 64-bit version of Windows 2000 running on Itanium, but it was in 'pre-alpha' condition. Microsoft officials have said the 32-bit version of the OS will continue to be updated for at least 10 years. Linux already has 64-bit capability for Itanium, and Red Hat has released an alpha 64-bit Linux, while AMD has hired SuSE (developers of SuSE Linux) to adapt Linux for Sledgehammer. Other Linux developers have also announced their support. Sun already has a 64-bit version of Solaris, while the Monterey alliance (IBM, Santa Cruz Operation (SCO), Sequent and Compaq) has developed its own 64-bit Unix.


Related MaterialsRelated Articles


Related Links




Bulletin Summary5 Minute Guides: The 64-bit chips
What's the point of 64-bit processors and when will they hit the market? Newswire's 5 Minute Guides investigates.

WAP Summary

Cross-Publishing InformationShort Headline
5 Minute Guides: The 64-bit chips

Clipping Information

Corporate IT No This field should be marked 'Yes' for any story of interest to corporate readers
CIT Lead No Newswire Lead No Section Lead No (These fields are controlled by all those handy buttons and agents)