Amd Athlon 64

[quik$ilver]

I felt like getting a discussion going on the yet to be released AMD Athlon 64.

I've been reading up on the AMD 64 recently and I've been finding out some interesting things. The new processor uses hypertransport technology that was developed at AMD.
What makes hypertransport better than Intel's hyperthreading technology?? From what I've heard the 64 is around 2ghz... which isnt very "revolutionary" since pentium offers 3ghz processors. I dont quite understand what the advantages of a integrated ddr dram controller does though?? The new 64 bit can handle more memory and larger files , what will Intel have to offer to this new era of 64 bit computing?

[Texuspete00]

Intel i currently sticking to there guns about no does both 32/64. Not totally true, Itanium does have a compatibity mode for 32 bit but it sucks. They are going to try and strengthen it but its not what you'd call native. I think they dont want to copycat there much smaller competitor... chipmakers try and hold an image. Memory controller on board is just one less path to go down. Normally a northbridge has these responsibilities. Look what happenned when they put L2 cache on dies.

[HAL9000]

I'm waiting to see what kinda fiasco they create with Socket 754, 939, and 940 of which none are cross compatable. And now the latest that amuses me... the first releases of the Athlon 64 will be limited to 32 bit operation???? Early reports available here. If this is true... you wanna tell me the logic of owning a 64 bit processor that is locked in 32 bit mode?

[TwoRails]

Crippling chips have been done forever, it seems. If they do put out a line of cripples, then they just might be new Duron line of chip. And, if they are crippled, I doubt sincerely they will be called "64s."

[pam123]

quick$ilver,
It's that AMD pr system. The first chip will run at 3200+ the second at 3400+.
The price for the first chip has been leaked and it's $389 it should drop when the second chip is released a month later.
The crippled chips are so they don't have to continue a production line for XP chips while still selling 32bit chips to people who want them. It's supposed to be a stop gap measure. I agree with Hal on this, I think it's a dumb idea.
They've been advertising the Athlon64 as fully able to run 32bit stuff with ease, so why are they doing this ?
I turned what was going to be my 'sensible upgrade' into a machine for someone else so now I'm watching this with interest.
If that Athlon64 is down to around the $200 mark by Jan. or so, I think that's what I'll use. The only thing I'm really worrying about are motherboards. AMD keeps having trouble with them and I'll want to see some really good reviews.

[quik$ilver]

YAY!!!!! I finally got some replies to this post... thanks alot for the replies, they were very informative.

[Force Flow]

Originally posted by HAL9000 I'm waiting to see what kinda fiasco they create with Socket 754, 939, and 940 of which none are cross compatable. And now the latest that amuses me... the first releases of the Athlon 64 will be limited to 32 bit operation???? Early reports available here. If this is true... you wanna tell me the logic of owning a 64 bit processor that is locked in 32 bit mode?

The only thing I can say is: "d'oh"

[imbest123]

Even if it ran everything in 64-bit mode there would be no need for it. I believe it is too much for a single user to have.

[TwoRails]

Originally posted by imbest123 Even if it ran everything in 64-bit mode there would be no need for it. I believe it is too much for a single user to have.

That's what they said about One MB of RAM... and the 286.... and the 386... and the 486... and 10MB hard drives.... and so on

[imbest123]

Ya I guess you are right.

[Force Flow]

"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication." -- Western Union internal memo, 1876.

"But what... is it good for ?" --An engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, commenting on the microchip in 1968.