|
AMD outlines 64-bit chip
|
 |
August 10, 2000: 3:24 p.m. ET
Technical information released for next-generation processor
By Staff Writer David Kleinbard
|
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Advanced Micro Devices, the nation's second-largest maker of computer microprocessors, released detailed technical information Thursday about its next generation processor, which eventually will replace its popular Athlon chip.
The processor AMD (AMD: Research, Estimates) is developing will work on a 64-bit architecture, versus the 32-bit architecture used in the Athlon and Intel Corp.'s Pentium III. The 32- and 64-bit designations refer to the amount of data a processor can handle in a single instruction. Microprocessors previously evolved from 8-bit to 16-bit and then from 16 to 32.
AMD expects to start selling 64-bit chips at the end of 2001, while Intel (INTC: Research, Estimates) expects to ship its 64-bit processor, called Itanium, in the fourth quarter of this year. The Itanium formerly was known by the code name Merced. Sun Microsystems already makes a 64-bit processor called the UltraSparc, and Compaq Computer makes one called Alpha.
Sixty-four-bit processors now are used in mainframes, rather than PCs or PC servers. Intel and AMD aim to change that, but they are taking different approaches to the market.
"Intel has focused its 64-bit technology on the very high end of the market, such as servers and multi-processing servers. They are not attempting to incorporate it into desktops for many years to come," said Dean McCarron, a principal at the semiconductor and PC research firm Mercury Research in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Intel plans to continue producing 32-bit chips for desktop machines, while reserving the 64-bit processors for high-end servers, creating a two-pronged marketing approach.
"By contrast, AMD has a single road on their map," McCarron said. "At some point in the future, everything they manufacture will be 64-bit, and the technology will proliferate down from servers into PCs."
Details for software developers
The information AMD released Thursday gives details software developers need to create applications and operating systems for the AMD 64-bit architecture. AMD has said its new processor will be able to run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
"Our whole intention is to make it painless to upgrade to 64-bit computing from 32-bit," AMD spokesman Ward Tisdale said. "It's important that there be backward migration, so that the industry doesn't abandon 32-bit altogether."
"Ultimately this technology is designed to help preserve the enterprise community's enormous financial investment in 32-bit operating systems, applications, development tools and support infrastructure while providing a seamless path to deploy future 64-bit technology," David Somo, an AMD vice president, said.
Both Intel and AMD say that 64-bit processors will be well adapted for processing power-hungry applications, such as computer aided design and large databases. However, there is no guarantee AMD's 64-bit chips will be faster than the 32-bit ones Intel manufactures in the future, Mercury's McCarron said.
"It's conceivable that an Intel 32-bit could be faster than an AMD 64-bit, depending on how good the implementation of the processor architecture is," he said. 
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
