Supplied by AMD

If you’ve just crawled out from under a rock and are asking the question
“64-bit what?” mainstream 64-bit processors are just a short walk
down the sandy silicon beach but what will it mean to you and I? Are 64-bit
processors what we need or what we would want?

Most prevalent are AMD and INTEL who have been shooting up test rockets before
the “big 64-bit fireworks show”. Every rumor sparks a sudden flurry
of theory, argument and conjecture but the fact is 64-bit processors aren’t
new. Intel and AMD are just making them affordable relative to their predecessor
kinfolk.

The amount of information on the Intel and AMD 64-bit offerings both in white
papers and assumption is overwhelming and can be a task to wade through. We’ll
just be concerning ourselves with AMD.

AMD
Presents:

AMD Athlon™ 64 *

There’s a new brand making its mark in the 64-bit arena. AMD Athlon™
64 is the name for our next generation of desktop and mobile processors.

• It stands for the next generation of AMD Athlon technology.
• It stands for simultaneous 32- and 64-bit application support.
• It stands for unbelievable increases in performance.
• It stands for the future of PC computing.

Built on AMD’s next-generation 64-bit architecture, the AMD Athlon 64
processor is designed to deliver outstanding levels of performance and customer-focused
innovation to home and business users alike.

Key features include:

• AMD 64-bit technology
• HyperTransport™ technology
• Integrated DDR memory controller

AMD Opteron*

AMD has selected the name “AMD Opteron” as the brand name for its
new family of multi-way enterprise-class processors for servers and workstations.

• Is the optimal/optimum x86 processor – designed to deliver the highest/best
  performance
• Gives you the option (choice/flexibility) to run 32-bit or 64-bit applications

The AMD Opteron™ processor is expected to deliver high-performance server
and workstation solutions for today’s demanding enterprise applications-delivering
scalability, reliability and compatibility. The AMD Opteron processor can also
provide investment protection by running 32-bit applications natively while
allowing a seamless transition path through 64-bit extensions, as customers
require.

The AMD Opteron processor is based on the 8th-generation processor core which
introduces the industry’s first x86-64 microprocessor technology. Other
key innovations:

• Integrated Memory Controller-Designed to remove memory bottleneck by scaling
  memory bandwidth as more CPUs are added and as CPU frequency increases.
• HyperTransport™ Technology-Designed to increase overall performance
  by helping to remove I/O bottlenecks, which improves bandwidth and reduces
  latency. HyperTransport allows the AMD Opteron processor to be deployed in
  2P, 4P, and scalable 8P platforms. HyperTransport technology enables glueless
  multiprocessing and provides an easy building block approach to system design.
  HyperTransport allows easy integration of a variety of third-party solutions
  (see HyperTransport Technology Consortium website for more information).

*taken from AMD’s
website.

Launch in 3…2…1…

AMD is poised to launch these processors formerly named Clawhammer and Sledgehammer.
Intel arms itself with IA-64. Give more than 5 minutes of thought to 64-bit
computing and you may be left with many questions; will it be faster, will it
make current systems obsolete, will current software work?

The immediate “need” for 64-bit computing depends on who you are
or rather what you do with a computer. Don’t let this be confused with
a “want” which is what those in marketing need you to be in order
to make money for their respective companies. Marketing folk “want”
you to buy new product. Commerce makes the world go around.

Also don’t get turned around by 64-bit color, 128-bit color or other
such similarities. These terms are for a whole different ballgame and aren’t
directly applicable to the topic at hand.

Where should you stand?

Let us offer a frame of reference for this article by positioning ourselves
in the shoes of the typical desktop user; the home user. You may not be an IT
manager or use your computers to serve tens, thousands or millions of others.
The typical person uses the PC to surf the Internet, send and receive email,
play games and send the occasional letter and digital photo to dear old mom.
In the workplace the typical user uses a PC to surf the Internet, send and receive
email, play games and send the occasional bill, letter or presentation to dear
old client.

Rarely do the majority of users really make use of the now available processing
power and software to its full extent. It may be for reasons of finances (not
having the money to buy the high-end consumer systems or software) or knowledge
(not knowing how to properly use the high-end consumer systems or software).

Odds are the average workplace hasn’t got a present need for 64-bit computing
for the single user but IT departments and power users will be looking to Opteron
when it comes to providing 64-bit computing power.

64-bit computing does bring winds of change. Those of us who are over 30 will
remember the significant changes that affected our lives with computers. I remember
moving from a typewriter to the first green screen DOS based PCs. I marveled
at the first Windows and Windows for Workgroups environments and at this funny
thing called a mouse. The Rolling Stones launched Windows95. I stood agape at
the huge cost of marketing this software and I watched Bill Gates “take
over the world”. The sound of a rock icon in a television commercial was
new to the world back then. Windows98, 2000 and XP left less of an impact on
me as it seemed to be just an improvement on the original concept of windows
though there were major changes under the hood. These changes streamlined the
world of using a PC but the basics of how to use it remained the same.

64-bit processing will mark what will be remembered as another significant
turning point and while the proverbial paint and bodywork may not radically
differ at first…what’s under the hood will. I wouldn’t expect
to switch on your brand new 64-bit processor computer the next morning and cry
out “holy crap my old 32-bit computer I had yesterday is a piece of garbage!”
Changes are shades of gray…not black and white.

Till death do us part.

The promise 64-bit computing brings is quite simple. It is the ability to do
more. Bottom line that’s what it comes down to even after reading umpteen
white papers and attending a multitude of meetings with people in short sleeves
with pocket protectors.

Did you expect more?

People are funny. Some may ask if 64-bit processors will make computers faster.
Some may ask if games will be better. Others may simply be overwhelmed. Honestly?
The technical jargon gives me a headache. I read many a white paper and there
were paragraphs of techno-babble that never made sense even after having someone
else read it to me.

Basically 64-bit computing brings the next level of ABILITY to the desktop
PC and server world. Think of it and the answer is yes. Will it be faster? Yes.
Will the games be better? Yes. Will a user be able to talk to my PC?

Yes if someone programs it.

Realize that dropping in a shiny new processor doesn’t mean your desktop
world magically transforms by some hidden setting awakened by the 64-bit processor.
I state quite strongly that 64-bit processors bring the promise of the ABILITY
to answer yes to most scenarios you can possibly imagine. Remember that one
component alone will not make the difference. Other components must catch up
and software designers have to explore and write new programs that will properly
utilize the 64-bit hardware.

But what about what you may have already?

The current PC you have in front of you is 32-bit processor based. It handles
information in 32-bit chunks. 64-bit processors handle information in, you guessed
it, 64-bit chunks. This may lead to the assumption that 64-bit processors are
twice as fast. No. They’ll most likely be even faster at some tasks. How
fast is a matter of conjecture and depends on the application but be rest assured
that 64-bit machines will be noticeably faster. 64-Bit processor manufacturer
MIPS has run demonstrations where 64-bit processors are 3-4 times faster then
their 32-bit cousins on some applications.

Now here’s where I’ll skip by the gobbledy-gook of techno-babble
to attempt to simplify the significant differences between 32-bit and 64-bit
processors.

Most significant is 32-bit processors can only address (use) a maximum of 4
GB of RAM. After that adding more RAM to a single 32-bit processor system is
rather useless. Athlon 64 and Opteron 64-bit processors have the ability to
address up to 2^64 bytes of memory. In other words 18,446,744,073,709,551,616
bytes exactly. That’s about 18 exabytes. (An exabyte is 1,000 petabytes, a petabyte
is 1,000 terabytes and a terabyte is 1,000 gigabytes.)

That’s about 18 Billion GB of ram.

Yes I said EIGHTEEN BILLION GIGABYTES! (18, 000,000,000) I’d hate to
see the size of a 4 billion Gigabyte stick never mind the installation instructions;
“using the heavy lift crane slowly lower the memory into the cradle”.

18 billion Gigabytes of memory is quite the staggering number as many of us
don’t even have 512 MB of memory in our PCs. The thought of 4 GB of memory
is only a dream to some. But RAM prices have plummeted over the last few years
and while the average price of a module seems to stay the same it is the size
of that module that increases. For example, 100 dollars may have bought you
8 MB of memory a few years ago but today it gets you 256 MB or, perhaps, even
512 MB. The new support of larger memory means programs will have the elbow-room
to potentially fully function within the faster world of RAM to processor.

Due to the increase in memory home movies from your digital camera may possibly
be loaded entirely into memory in order to temporarily work with the files.
I work in the digital media and 4GB is not enough room to hold the media files
required for even one of our projects such as a 30 second TV commercial. This
simply means faster.

Thus the hard drive may become only a storage medium. It may no longer play
a primary role in the relation of software, processor and RAM. A user may store
or work from files that are solely within RAM before finally saving to the hard
drive such as before shutting down the computer.

RAM/processor calculations are much faster and if virtually all the work can
be done entirely by those components then there are fewer bottlenecks. More
RAM means that possibly every office application can be loaded entirely into
the faster world of RAM and as soon as you need it….blink it’s there.
To the graphic 2D/3D designers it could mean manipulating and designing utterly
complex objects in real-time where once it may have taken minutes, hours or
days to see a result. To the game player it means just one or two more steps
closer to a fully immersive and cinematic experience.

The list goes on limited only by your imagination but remember that this change
is not instantaneous and it will take time, research and finances to adapt current
applications and develop new ones. The good news is that “porting”
32-bit applications to properly use 64-bit processing is not entirely difficult
in the grand scheme of things. Unreal Tournament was ported in a matter of days
by just a handful of programmers.

The most important point to remember is that a 64-bit operating system is the
first requirement as 64-bit applications will not run on a 32-bit OS. The 64-bit
OS will be able to run 32-bit applications.

Getting on route 64.

So you have decided to jump on the 64-bit bandwagon when it rolls around. Yes
you will need a 64-bit processor and a new motherboard. That answers the first
question. Secondly all of your old software will work with AMD Athlon 64 and
Opteron processors. They are backwards compatible and “know” when
they are working with 32-bit applications or 64-bit applications. You also won’t
need to restart your PC if you want to “switch” from 32-bit mode
to 64-bit mode. It will just happen under the hood. For the moment every other
component will be useable; RAM, hard drive, CDRW, etc. It would be financially
suicidal for AMD to render every component useless in one fell swoop.

One of the first changes to be seen after the new hardware for most of us will
be the ever present Mr. Gates. Windows 64-bit (pseudo name only for illustrative
purposes) will be the first on the scene proudly trumpeting the coming era of
64-bit technology. Mr. Gates will ensure that his software, whatever name it
has, will be the first on your shopping list.

But back to the hardware for a moment; AMD’s Athlon 64 and Opteron processors
are not totally new. AMD has done a brilliant job of breathing life back into
x86 technology which is what they are currently based on. In the competitive
world of David (AMD) and Goliath (Intel) many were very focussed on the 64-bit
step. There were those that presumed that AMD would have to build a new processor
from the ground up like rival Intel would. The question of how deep AMD’s
financial pockets were to be able to accomplish this came up and with it their
future in the battle against the competition.

But AMD pulled the digital rabbit out of the hat and produced 64-bit processor
technology based on the groundwork already laid. AMD also has managed to launch
a few well-aimed torpedoes at the battleship HMS Intel with the Athlon 64 and
Opteron processors. These torpedoes are best left to the technical department
to fully explain as again it falls into the mind-splitting jargon category but
let it be said that it’s deep in the inner workings of floating points,
ROPs AGUs, and ALUs. Nevertheless AMD has scored a victory by making Athlon
64 and Opteron 32-bit and 64-bit compatible in the hardware and will not require
emulation to simulate 32-bit like Intel’s IA-64 will have to. This could
mean that AMD 64-bit processors will be better at straddling between the two
worlds.

If there is a lesson to be learned from the Megahertz wars…it is never
think more is better. While many a white paper may argue point for point Intel
vs. AMD of who is better…the proof will be in the digital pudding. AMD
has shown inarguably well that they have produced a highly affordable product
that competes with, and in some cases betters, the higher priced and higher
clocked rival.

The Athlon 64 and Opteron will continue that tradition of AMD underdog versus
the corporate giant. Let’s face fact that Intel has more money to throw
at the masses in order to market their product to homes everywhere. AMD hasn’t
got the financial artillery to compete pound for pound in the marketing world.
In this case, if the AMD word doesn’t get out en mass then what the public
doesn’t know may hurt them.

AMD brings affordable 64-bit processors to the table. Affordable is a relative
term as 64-bit processors aren’t new. This is not a new invention as MIPS
and Sun have had 64-bit processing on the market for some time but it is has
only been affordable to a select few. UltraSPARC III systems start at around
$10,000 USD. SGI MIPS 64-bit processors hide in your PS2 Playstation game consoles.

AMD is very tight-lipped with their pricing structure for Athlon 64 and Opteron.
It is guaranteed that the new processors will be more expensive. Many are bantering
around a $300-$500 USD for an Athlon 64 but I wouldn’t put too much stock
in the credibility of that estimate. I’ve watched that figure drop from
an initial estimate of $1500 over the last few months. We know that the processors
will have to be price competitive in their class if the public is to be encouraged
to buy. We are used to processors in the one to two hundred dollar ranges. Opteron
processors will be more expensive as they will be going head to head with Intel’s
present Xeon processor and the upcoming 64-bit entry. If there is one trend
that is undeniable it is that AMD processors are less expensive than Intel.
Initially the consumer will be paying more of a premium for 64-bit processors
but market competition, potential price wars and availability will have a downward
influence on prices after the initial launch. Right now it is anybody’s
guess what the true prices will be but Icrontic has been assured by AMD that
the Athlon 64 and Opteron will not be unaffordable.

What time is it?

Looking at the clock of these processors will be another AMD exercise in “new
math”. In the world of processors we were firmly entrenched in the belief
that more is better; more gigahertz meant faster. AMD chipped away at this until
the public began to readjust to the fact that more wasn’t necessarily
better when comparing Athlon to P4.

The AMD PR Rating system has made some headway when comparing MHz to MHz but
the consumer still expects bigger numbers and the confusion may start all over
again. We have come to realize that MHz isn’t everything when it comes
to comparing AMD to Intel processors. We do, however, expect that new processors
will be introduced at a higher AMD PR rating. The consumer public would think
they were going backwards if they own an Athlon XP 2800+ and then are considering
an Athlon 64 2000+. Add to that the secondary, but not necessarily lesser important,
MHz myth. The processors formerly known as hammer could also be introduced at
a lower MHz speed and then you’ve opened the whole can of marketing worms
all over again.

AMD makes a very good point that processors need to be better rated for performance.
That is why they introduced their PR rating system. But the “more is better
” myth takes over once again. It may not be that more megahertz is better
when comparing AMD to INTEL but more is better when thinking of old AMD processors
versus new AMD processors. Intel stands to gain by sticking with the big GHz
numbers. The public will buy what they know…and again what they don’t
know may end up hurting them.

Leap of faith time.

There is no confirmed information. No one has an Athlon 64 in their hands.
At least no hardware review site and any leaks are nebulous at best. Our information
neither confirms nor denies anything that anyone else does or doesn’t
already know. We can only make accurate guesses but until we hold these 64-bit
treasures in our hands…we aren’t saying anything will be this or
that.

We can guess that AMD will continue to advance in is PR ratings system. Be
it Athlon 64, Opteron or Barton the numbers will continue to climb but be prepared
for some Megahertz drops with the introduction of the 64-bit processors. This
anti-climax will last about as long as it takes to compare an AMD 2600+ or 2800+
to the new 64-bit babies in the benchmark arena. The buying public will want
one simple answer; is it faster?

Chances are that some applications running under the new 64-bit processors
will be faster and that is of great interest to me. 64-bit technology loves
crunching numbers in such programs like AutoCAD, Photoshop, Softimage XSI and
After Effects.

When it comes to chewing through 100 frames of a 3D model render my single
Athlon XP 2100+ 266 FSB processor does quite well, the 333 FSB 2600+ did a bit
better and the dual workhorse 2100+ MP smoked them both. I can guess that the
64-bit Athlon 64 will further boost this lead another 10-15% as trends have
dictated

Now this is where I will lust after the Athlon 64 and especially a dual processor
Opteron. I expect that my Athlon MP system will find itself in jeopardy as the
new 64-bit dual system threatens to whiz by in the benchmarks.

But gamers may have to be content, and quite happily so, with forgoing 64-bit
technology for the moment as it is expected that current XP processors, aka
Athlon XP and the Barton continuation of the XP, will continue to satisfy frame
hungry fanatics at highly affordable prices. Many have come to the conclusion
that initial 64-bit AMD offerings will not surpass current processors in the
32-bit gaming benchmarks. They plan to straddle the 32-bit/64-bit market for
as long as they find it profitable. That is smart business thinking as AMD needs
to continue to satisfy the current market demands and set pace against rival
Intel in the desktop PC market. AMD is not phasing out 32-bit processors for
this very reason. This will continue as ground is made in the 64-bit market.
It is inevitable that 32-bit processors will fade away to rest in their hallowed
place in the backs of our computer junk drawers.

There are very few facts available on Athlon 64 and Opteron. AMD has released
an Opteron benchmark showing it beating out a P4 2.8 GHz processor.

These are really the only “official benchmarks” available but there
are some things we do know.

What we do know.

• Officially we know that Barton is “coming soon” and Hammer is
  on track for the first half of this year (2003). AMD can’t afford another
  paper launch fiasco and I imagine they are being very careful with their timelines.

• We do know that 64-bit processing will bring a performance increase but
  how much depends on the software and the implementation of a 64-bit OS. Some
  applications or games may be on par and others may leap ahead. MIPS have demonstrated
  that there may be as much as 3.5 to 4 times increase when moving from 32-bit
  to 64-bit implementation.
• We do know that current software will run on Athlon 64 and Opteron systems
  with little or no problems. Athlon and Opteron run x86 code without any emulators
  thus no performance loss comparatively to a 64-bit processor emulating x86
  code.
• We do know that you’ll have to toss your current Socket A (462 pin)
  motherboard in favor of a new socket design if you want Athlon 64 or Opteron.
  (754 pins for Athlon 64 and 940 for Opteron)
• Athlon 64 may eventually replace XP/Barton but it will be quite some time
  before that happens. (a few years at least)
• Athlon 64 is meant for single processor desktops. Opteron will be used in
  multi-processor systems.
• Athlon 64 requires a 754 pin socket and no dual 754 pin motherboards are
  planned. (No bridge mods to make your Athlon 64 run in a dual system like
  some have done with XP processors)
• Opteron is meant for multi-processor, larger requirements and will initially
  be in 4 to 8 processor configurations. This is a box that would well define
  the word “overkill” in a home PC.
• Current PC components (besides the motherboard) will not have to be replaced
  because of 64-bit AMD technology.
• 64-bit software will take time to find its way to market. Expect games and
  higher end graphic programs to be the first after the OS. Current popular
  software will need to be ported to run as true 64-bit.
• Your present AMD system, providing it is not a K6II 266, will not be relegated
  to the shameful backroom yet. If you own a newer AMD processor (1700+ to 2200+)
  then the Barton processor may be a highly affordable performance stepping
  stone until the 64-bit processors come down to the price you like or the performance
  levels meet your needs. I, for one, was extremely impressed with the performance
  of the AMD 2600+ 333 FSB processor combined with matching RAM and a HypertTransport
  equipped motherboard.
• Athlon 64 and Opteron processors will first appeal to intensive graphic
  programs such as CAD server environments.

Science fiction and reality.

Starship captains may talk to the computer with vague questions and get accurate
responses on TV shows but in reality we are a far cry from doing so in our homes.
It isn’t impossible to create a “smart: computer or one that is
more aware of its user. Awareness is not like your dog running up to you with
a ball wanting to play but your computer could learn about your habits. As an
example, right now WindowsXP does so in a minor forum by remembering your most
commonly used programs or favorites and hiding the rest.

Increase the available power and resources and programmers can take this simple
“remembering tasks” to the next level. Perhaps we’ll see fluid
video that is easy to watch…not a tiny, jittery square or perhaps a photorealistic
character as a help guide to show a user how to work a program and have it respond
to simple verbal questions. 64-bit computing opens the door a little wider to
a smart desktop in the PC environment and this may allow us to do more with
our PC’s without having to know more.

Now wouldn’t that be useful?

A final cautionary note when it comes to news about putting new technology
on everyone’s desktops. As good as it sounds and how close it may seem
take heed as just the other day I read an article dated Jan 1, 1996. Seven years
later this article calls from the past like a trip to a World’s Exposition
exhibit foretells the future today from a century ago.

The article trumpets the headline of 64-bit processors imminently hitting the
streets. There were quotes from high ranking corporate managers of well known
companies of today that spoke of “fewer than 5% of systems shipping
with the maximum of 4 GB of memory, evidence of untapped potential on 32-bit
systems.”

Experts expected a 64-bit chip from Intel, called the P7, in 1997.

Whoops!

The closing line of the article is what really is interesting. “Today’s
move toward 64-bit file systems and 64-bit processing are just stages in the
evolution of information technology. It is important to recognize this and not
develop solutions for 64-bit that are not sufficient for 128-bit and beyond.”

Could it mean a 128-bit processor? The past predicts the future may become
yesterday’s news.