The future of computing

[GoldenEagle]

The future of microcomputers is about to change drastically. Intel is getting ready to release their 64 bit processor iTanium which will be up to 16 times faster that its predecessor the Intel Pentium, which has been around since 1988.

However, in order for the iTanium to reach maximum speeds, companies will have to come up with new products to support the Titanium. New motherboards, new system buses, etc. will have to be made to support the Titanium and so it can reach its maximum power.

Rest assured Microsoft will also cash in on the new products that are going to be released. Microsoft will have to compile a new operating system which will cost close to $500. In addition, every application they release, such as Office, will have to recompiled as well. The new Office product will cost around $1200.

Other application software such as FOF and OOTP will also not be able to run on the new 64 bit processor. They too will have to recompiled, probably with a 64 bit complier. That will cost developers a pretty penny.

In the end, this will make home computing much, much faster. In about three to four years, computers will be processing at about 6Ghz. However, the first generation iTianum will run about 3.4 Ghz. You will these boys start churning out probably by the end of they year but be cautious when buying one. They will run for about $3500. I don’t think it worth the money - but that is my opinion.

[MikeVic]

I thought Athlon had one out already? The Althon 64DD or something?

[Airhog]

64 bit computer have been out for a few years, or so i thought. At least on the server side of things. It will be sometime before 32 bit computers start to fade out. Mainly because of the incompatibilites between the two.

[GoldenEagle]

The 64bit has been released for servers for a couple of years. Apple is getting ready to release a 64 bit processor, so now Intel is going to release their 64bit to home users.

The Athlon one does not have a governor so I wouldn't reccomend it. You can blow that thing pretty easily if you dont have alot of cooling.

[Yossarian]

well... Intel have the Itanium but it doesn't offer a benifit over pentium 4 unless you specially build software to use the extra capabilities.

Wheras the althon 64 doesn't need recompilation.

I wouldn't worry about 'blowing' an althon 64. Get a semi-decent fan and you're fine. If you're overclocking that may not be the case but if you're overclocking, you don't need *me* to tell you that.


Sun's Ultra-SPARC has been around for YEARS

This (64 bit mainstream processors) isn't going to make a huge immediate change in computing. Its just another pebble in the creek of progress.

There's a nice summary of 64 bit processors here

http://www.faculty.iu-bremen.de/birk/lectures/PC101-2003/05cpu64/history.htm

[tucker342]

This (64 bit mainstream processors) isn't going to make a huge immediate change in computing. Its just another pebble in the creek of progress.

2003/05cpu64/history.htm[/url]

Exactly

It's pretty amazing how quickly computer technology is changing...

[gstelmack]

64-bit is only important if you need direct RAM access to more than 2GB of data. For almost every computing user on the planet, that day is not here yet. 64-bit is for large database applications, server uses, and the like primarily. Publishing may also see a benefit working with high-resolution large-size images, and this may be where home users first see a benefit. Maybe someone will come up with a DVD burning application that will finally suck in the home user. But I'm not planning to go 64-bit for several years at least.