64bit Computing

by **Rule of Wrist** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:01 pm

I've seen a couple people talk about wanting to get a 64bit machine, or that already had one... but I'm wondering if anybody has actually put one together and tested it out with actual games yet...

I haven't seen any reviews dealing with this...

My own opinion is that this technology is a few years away, since there currently isn't the software to support the hardware - and the hardware itself is in its infancy of development...

Anybody with links or opinions about this subject?

by **FarginMofo** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:07 pm

Rule,

Go here http://www.amdmb.com and look under featured articles.

by **MMmmGood** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:21 pm

A few of our machines are using AMD 64bit chips. There is a slight improvement over the standard AMD chips @ 32bits, but not that much.

by **Colonel Ingus** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:23 pm

There is no OS that supports 64 bit processors. So it would seem to me that there isn't much use in getting one together right now. (unless you want to spend a ton of money to have something that is not currently usable:D )

In addition I have read the the first OS to utilize this feature (Next generation MS OS thats not even named yet?) will not be available to Q3-Q4 of '04.

by **FarginMofo** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:25 pm

Yeah, getting a 64-bit processor now seems more like a waste of $ than anything else.

by **JimmyTango** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:25 pm

Unless a 64bit OS and 64bit software is running on that 64bit hardware, do not expect much of an improvement at all.

by **MMmmGood** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:37 pm

Originally posted by Colonel Ingus
There is no OS that supports 64 bit processors. So it would seem to me that there isn't much use in getting one together right now. (unless you want to spend a ton of money to have something that is not currently usable:D )

In addition I have read the the first OS to utilize this feature (Next generation MS OS thats not even named yet?) will not be available to Q3-Q4 of '04.

RedHat Enterprise 3 supports 64bit processing and there is also a beta version of Windows that does too.

by **JimmyTango** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 4:38 pm

Problem is that the software you are running in that OS needs to be 64 bit, too.

by **Rule of Wrist** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:09 pm

Originally posted by FarginMofo
Rule,

Go here http://www.amdmb.com and look under featured articles.

Interesting... looking at the stats on that site... you can get an athlon64 3000+ for about $225... that will perform about as well as a 3.2 P4 @ $275... that's better than what I thought they would do... I thought they were as yet inferior in performance to current 32bit stuff, since they are basically 1st generation tech...

by **Casus** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:25 pm

The Opterons "smoke" the Xeons, even at 32 bit applications, mostly because of the fact of the 1Mb l2 cache.

Plus the entire memory subsystem on the Opterons is way faster then the Xeons, etc.

Lots more then just clock-for-clock comparisions.

If I was building the ultimate rig and $$ wasn't a concern, it'd be based on the AMD FX-1 chip, fastest chip on the market.

by **shockwave203** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 8:44 pm

what's the next windows OS that's 64 bit? longhorn or something along those lines? or is that just the 'beta' name of it?

by **Casus** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 9:07 pm

2003 Server is in beta.

by **Murgatroyd** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:28 pm

Hey, can you guys point me in the direction of some good literature to brush up on some of the macro inner-machenations of computer hardware? I kinda fell out of the loop, hardware-wise. Specifically processors, what makes one better than the other, etc. Periodicals, books, whatever would be great. Thanks.

by **ATW** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 10:54 pm

Some of you people spend way too much time playing and not enough time reading. Rather than try to explain why an A64 is better even in 32-bit, check the proof for yourself... http://www.nordichardware.com/reviews/cpu/2003/Athlon_64/index.php?ez=15 (note the comparison between the XP 3200+ and A64 3200+). Keep in mind the cost difference to build one adds up to about a night on the town, not hundreds of dollars. I'm building one the very moment the socket 939 chipsets are released...god willing, before BFV...and I don't plan to nor care if I have a single 64-bit app the entire time I own the rig...it will fly regardless.

by **Slaughter** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:04 pm

was reading this months PC-Gamer, and it looks like probably in a few years 64 would be the in thing, they showed some graphs with games, some improvements in fps on a few, but bearly anything to warrant the massive price

64bit Computing

64bit Computing

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