Havok Taps Multicore Processing Power

[alanschu]

I clearly am not keeping up with the times.

 

 

Following the GHz race was part of the reason I failed out of University in 1999/2000

[EnderAndrew]

Most people don't know that AMD has had a 64-bit processor out for well over 2 years.

[alanschu]

I googled 64-bit Pentium but only found one actual link.

 

Could you direct to me more information, as that one link was more of an announcement than anything else.

[EnderAndrew]

http://www.newegg.com/OldVersion/app/ViewP...-116-195&depa=0

 

The EMT64 feature is the ability to run 64-bit instructions. They run them poorly however as they are still 32-bit chips.

[alanschu]

Ah.

 

 

So it's a pseudo-64-bit processor?

 

I suppose that would make sense....as I imagine that changing to a 64-bit instruction set would require quite the overhaul of a chip :D

 

I guess this would give the 64-bit functionality that the G5 has, although not as quickly. BUT....it's possible (and perhaps likely) that there will be a new Mac processor by the time 64-bit starts getting more mainstream.

 

Fortunately, it finally doesn't seem like it will be too long.

[EnderAndrew]

Yet Intel initially was really marketing them as 64-bit chips when they really aren't.

[alanschu]

Well of course. It's just "good" business to, right.

 

That way the consumers can recognize the greatness that is Intel, and how they have pioneered the consumer chip into the 64-bit era.

[EnderAndrew]

They did release the Itanium, only to pull it off the market after they were sued for stealing technology, and then they released the Itanium 2, which couldn't run any 32-bit code. That was brilliant.

 

The AMD Athlon 64 was the first CPU to run 64-bit and 32-bit code seemlessly.

[alanschu]

They did release the Itanium, only to pull it off the market after they were sued for stealing technology, and then they released the Itanium 2, which couldn't run any 32-bit code.  That was brilliant.

 

The AMD Athlon 64 was the first CPU to run 64-bit and 32-bit code seAmlessly.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

FIXED! :D

 

Going hardware support for 64-bit and 32-bit was definitely a decision if I ever saw one.

 

You get people that just have to have the latest and greatest that will get it, since it'll still be blazing fast on current stuff, but also leaves room for when Longhorn and whatnot comes out, so you get the benefit for "free" and whatnot.

 

 

I didn't know the Itanium was illegal. I just thought it was overpriced

[Guest GroinOfDespair]

Spellmar was owned!

[EnderAndrew]

Grr. I guess I am fired.

 

If you haven't been following processors lately, the AMD 64 line is really impressive. They have a new Hypertransport technology which completely changes motheboards. Instead of a Northbridge and Southbridge which control the FSB, the processor now has a direct serial connection to each component on the motherboard. The 1,000 mHz Hypertransport boards act like a typical 2,000 mHz FSB. It's quite nice.

[alanschu]

Yup yup yup.

 

I have briefly followed them, mostly right around purchasing time

 

 

I upgraded to the 3500+ Socket 939 in November....very nice :cool:

 

I like the Hypertransport (even though at first I was like...WTF is Hypertransport....who knows!....but I'm sure I'll want the 2000 MHz version :D)

[EnderAndrew]

Overall, I am a big fan of the NForce Ultra 4 chipset, but it sounds like you already got a mobo.

[alanschu]

The only one available for me at the time was the A8V.

 

I figured the nForce would probably be better, but I didn't want to wait around.

[EnderAndrew]

The NForce 4 Ultra has built in gigabit ethernet, firewall, and all kinds of goodies.

[alanschu]

Meh, so does mine.

 

It's so 1999 to not have gigabit ethernet

 

I don't know if I have a hardware firewall.....but honestly, I've spent months at a time with no software firewall up by mistake, and no one has done anything (knock on wood).

 

All a hacker will find out is that I'm a geek that plays video games

[Darth Barth]

Things are finally starting to become interesting again in the PC market. PPU, dual core, Intel likely to adopt Hyper-Transport, etc..

[EnderAndrew]

AMD suiing Intel over illegal practices, and winning already in Japan...

[alanschu]

Yes yes we know