# Seen AMD's New 64-Bit Processor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848 "2003-10-01T04:48:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/1 "2003-10-01T04:48:24Z")
It looks to be [smokin’](http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9485_9487%5e9748,00.html?redir=CPMC02)! > [@](#): > > AMD64 technology is AMD’s approach to 64-bit computing which doubles the number of processor registers and increases the addressable memory space well beyond 4GB for increased performance and new, cinematic-computing experiences. Processors with AMD64 technology offer leadingedge performance on today’s software applications while enabling a seamless migration to future 64-bit computing. Can’t wait for the price to drop so that I can afford one. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/2 "2003-10-01T04:52:46Z")
there’s reviews on [www.tomshardware.com](http://www.tomshardware.com) and [www.hardocp.com](http://www.hardocp.com) with the new Pentium thrown in for comparison. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/3 "2003-10-01T05:51:41Z")
And AMD is making it backwards compatible with 32-bit abilities. A friend of mine did a report and found some info that when the higher models come out, some of them will be able to emulate 128-bit processing. Don’t ya just love it? ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/4 "2003-10-01T21:01:28Z")
Is there a practial limit on the bit depth you can use on a processor? ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/5 "2003-10-01T21:16:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darkhold \* > \*\*there’s reviews on [www.tomshardware.com](http://www.tomshardware.com) and [www.hardocp.com](http://www.hardocp.com) with the new Pentium thrown in for comparison. \*\* [H]ardOCP is my favorite geek hangout! If it isn’t \*\*[H]\*\*ard it isn’t worth doing! As soon as the price gets reasonable ( \<$200 ) I’ll be gettin one! ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/6 "2003-10-01T21:22:33Z")
Venus, ahh such geek fun. I esp like how the two sites were rivals then started cooperating and now hate each other with a passion. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/7 "2003-10-02T00:03:35Z")
Eh. Every review I’ve seen says that the move to 64-bit processing is premature, as there’s no real need (or demand) for 64-bit software, resulting in negligible gains with the new Athlon. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/8 "2003-10-02T02:07:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*Eh. Every review I’ve seen says that the move to 64-bit processing is premature, as there’s no real need (or demand) for 64-bit software, resulting in negligible gains with the new Athlon. \*\* Ya know, I remember reading the same thing about the 2 gigahertz chips, no need, no applications, yadda, yadda. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/9 "2003-10-02T04:44:14Z")
And they’re working on a [version of Linux](http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/92amd64beta.php3) to use the chips! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/10 "2003-10-02T06:27:46Z")
As soon as XP/A64 comes out I’ll be getting users clamouring for it. The extra memory space is a killer feature, even for 32-bit apps, as each such app will be able to have 4 GB for itself. My users do a lot of modelling, simulation, and number-crunching, so 64-bit software will be a godsend. ---
**Author:** ![cbm77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@cbm77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbm77)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-amds-new-64-bit-processor/204848/11 "2003-10-03T04:47:00Z")
I wonder how Linux distros will be able to keep up with this huge “digital media revolution”. I’m running Mandrake 9.1 on a new laptop, I don’t even have a fully tested graphics driver. Anyone know if this release of the new AMD athlon processors will speed up production of Linux drivers for graphics excelerators and other hardware? Link to the Specs: [News Forge](http://newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=03/09/25/0435215&mode=thread&tid=7) > [@](#): > > **Specs:** The chips are the AMD 64 Processor for desktops and notebooks (integrated 64-bit, PC3200 DDR memory interface and Hyper Transport? technology capable of transmitting and receiving up to 6.4 GB of I/O data traffic); the AMD 64 FX Processor for desktops (128-bit, PC 3200 DDR memory interface, 6.4 GB of I/O traffic); and the AMD Opteron Processor for servers and workstations (up to 19.2 GB of I/O bandwidth). Each processor houses approximately 105 million transistors.