64 bit now or later?

[GIR_!]

Hello, I would like to hear some people's opinions on the alienware 7700 mobile desktop. I want one, except, that at this point, they are not available with amd processors. The reason why I want an amd is because the amd 64's support both 32 and 64 bit computing. Now, I don't know for how long this has been going on, but we are at a threshhold, if you will, for 64 bit computing I believe. I do not upgrade too often. Since 1993, I think I have made around less than 10 upgrades. I can't play too many games at this point but hey, oh well. I am really looking to splurge on a new system and I would like it to be a mobile desktop. My only real stop sign is this whole 64 bit thing. I don't want to go out and buy a nice system and then have it become obsolete by next fall. I know that a lot of people joke about going out and buying a system and then have it become obsolete by the end of the month, if not week. But, with those situations, I do not believe they have become obsolete, just not the latest and greatest. But when this whole 64 bit thing goes mainstream, are we all going to have to upgrade to a system that will be able to do that sort of computing if only just to be able to stay connected and interact with the rest of the community and to use the software that we have become so acustomed to using? That is why I want an amd 64 processor that does both the now and the later, the 32 and the 64. Intel, to my knowledge has not even addressed the 64 bit issue, or have they? Well, I do not need a new system RIGHT now, but I am getting a little itchy for one. I have been eyeing that 7700 since around December. Didn't mean to ramble too much, but I would appreciate your opinions. Thankyou.

[austin1]

intel does have 64 bit its the socket 775 CPU's. also i would hold off for now long horn isnt coming out until 2006-2007 and no other operating systems (by microsoft) have 64 bit tech.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by austin1 also i would hold off for now long horn isnt coming out until 2006-2007 and no other operating systems (by microsoft) have 64 bit tech.

Not true, WinXP Pro x64 Edition is available now.

Cricket

[kram 2.0]

Intel has addressed the 64-bit issue - actually, they were (one of) the first to with the Itanium CPUs. For the desktop platform, Intel enabled EM64T on its Pentium IV 6xx series and Pentium D processors. Microsoft does have a 64-bit Operating System out right now - the MS Windows XP x64, but, like the Itanium, I think it's a "proof of concept" OS.

I wouldn't worry about it. 32-bit processing isn't going to disappear overnight - like many old computer concepts, they do survive even if the new one is released.

kram

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by kram8806 Intel has addressed the 64-bit issue - actually, they were the first to with the Itanium CPUs.

Nope, MIPS introduced a 64 bit RISC based processor back in 1990. Sun introduced the 64 bit Sparc processors back in 1995. And DEC introduced it's 64 bit Alpha in 1992.

Cricket

[DonVito]

I agree, mainstream 64 bit os and apps are at least two years off. At first you might see a 64 bit version of a 32 bit game here and there. Until 64 bit processors are alomost completly standard you wont see developers making 64 bit only games and apps because they would't sell enough. Alot of people talk about how unbalevably realist games will be in 64 bit. while this is true, other components will have to catch up before this happens (in example, video cards that will be able to show those graphics whithout costing a totally unreasonable amount.)

just my two cents

[allburnintegrated]

With a notebook, something like a Pentium M would be a lot better as it has better battery life and comparable performance.
Just having 64-bit won't give you a really extreme performance boost as software (and drivers) have to be written specifically to take advantage of it. And there isn't much software around yet that is designed for 64-bit. For gaming, much more important than 64-bit is a decent video card. Don't expect the notebook's battery to last a long time though.

[GIR_!]

hmmmm, well thankyou for all of your opinions and the calming of my nerves. I think i read somewhere that 64 bitting had been around for something like a decade now, more I will bet, but is still in it's testing stage. But I thought that Long Horn was going to be coming out like, right around late winter early spring. Because it seems that computers seem to follow where the software (operating systems) take them, and now that there actually are operating systems for 64 bit, it won't be long now at all. But I suppose that it is off a bit now that it won't kill me to continue and with and buy a 32 bit system. How easy,difficult,interesting,worth it is it to re-vamp a notebook with a new processor, and mobo? Would a person have to change the video/graphics card out as well?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by GIR_! I think i read somewhere that 64 bitting had been around for something like a decade now, more I will bet, but is still in it's testing stage.

64 bit processing for the server side is way beyond the testing stage. Most servers are 64 bit and have been for quite some time now. It's the desktop side of computing that 64 bit is finally making it's appearance.

Cricket

[kilgoretrout]

Well in the windows/intel world 64 bit computing may be in the testing phase but that statement certainly isn't true everywhere, particularly at the server/enterprise level. Sun's ultrasparc processors are 64 bit as are many highend processors for servers from intel and amd. 64 bit servers and OSes, mostly linux or unix, are common in the server room and have been for some time. On the desktop, the mac g5 is 64 bit and their OSX Tiger OS is 64 bit. There are also many stable 64 bit linux desktop distros which have been around for the past year.
However, unless you want to get into some cutting edge linux stuff or need to run a high performance linux/unix server, at this point 64 bit is unnecessary. I think it will take a long time before 64 bit computing offers any substantial advantage to the home user/workstation market, much longer than the transition from 16 bit to 32 bit. The huge address space available in 64 bit isn't useful in that environment like it is for some humongous data base on some server. Games should be the first to take advantage of that capability on the home desktop.

[David M]

The reason to buy a 64 bit capable system now is because they are so darn fast at 32 bits. Your system will be obsolete but still usable in 2 years because technology never stops advancing. Go ahead and buy the 64 bit system capable system and run the 32 bit OS with the understanding there is very little 64 bit software out there. When there is 64 bit software available, set your computer up as a dual boot so you can run either 32 or 64 bit software.

[GIR_!]

Ok, yes I would be a typical home computer user, none of that server stuff. I don't know how discriminating that sounds but dear lord there is just so much you can do with a computer, it boggles my head just to be able to do the simple things that I do do and I just try not to think about the rest. I just want to stay current, at least. But yes, I think I would like to have a dual setup, because, I like antique software. Thankyou for all of your opinions, and speaking of which, anyone have an opinion an the alienware mobile desktop, the 51M-7700 by chance? Or should I start a new thread elsewhere?

[Al Pollock]

I recently bilt my daughter a 64 bit , while in the decision stage we talked about the difference in price I belive it was about $75 I used the Abit KV8 turned out to be an awesome system