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               Outbreak Magazine Issue #8 - Article 13 of 14
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Opteron Rocks! Itaniums a Silly-con?
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By: Prodigal|Son


The 32-bit processor has been out for awhile, since 1985 to be exact.  It changed 
the face of computing for a long time because it outperformed the 16 bit processors 
by a lot, and allowed computers to use up to 4 gigs of memory.  Times are changing, 
and soon people will be using a lot more ram than they already are.  4 gigs seems 
alot, but so did 640KB in 1981, and 64 bit should allow 1 terabyte. 64 bit CPUs 
have been used in servers for years, and servers need more memory then your average 
Joe's gaming machine. Software is demanding more and more RAM.  I remember when 16 
megs was enough for windows 3.1, and the most current version of windows, windows XP, 
demands as much as 128 megs.  That's more then a lot of hard drives had when 3.1 first 
came out.

The problem with using 64 bit processors is that software would have to be 
rewritten for 64 bit processors, which is tedious and time consuming.  Intel has the 
Itanium processor which only runs 64 bit software and operating systems.  The downside 
to this is that companies who use windows cannot use the windows server operating 
software, except there is a special edition of windows .net fir the new itanium CPUs. 
AMD has started on the 64-bit CPU bandwagon too, by bringing out a 64 bit CPU, code 
named hammer, but when released will be called opteron.  What's interesting about these 
CPUs is that they run 32 and 64 bit software and still uses the x86 instruction set, 
which the Intel itanium has abandoned.  This has Intel scared, because the opteron will 
be for servers, and also home workstations.  Microsoft has become a partner with AMD, 
and they're working on a windows for x86-64.

64 bit CPUs also run around twice as fast 
as 32 bit.  for example, a 900MHz opteron will run around 1700 or 1800MHz.  In order to 
run that fast, the processor would need 64-bit software, because 32 bit doesn't run as 
fast.

For the opteron to work and sell well, AMD has better get companies to write 
software for the 64 bit CPUs too.  if they can get the opteron to do well, and get 
companies to write software for them, then AMD might make it to the top in speed for the 
home computer market.  The 8th generation athlon will be based on the opteron, and will 
be used mostly for home computers and low end business workstations.

the opteron 
processor does not have a front side bus as everyone has come accustomed to.  it's all 
controlled inside the chip.  opteron's will be able to support up to 8 processors at a 
time, depending on which package you decide to use.

I have great hopes of this 
processor, and think it will do well.  I'll probably upgrade to the 8th generation 
athlon when it comes out, but I imagine that it will be pretty pricey.  so you better 
save up!
