AMD’s recent announcement of the AMD Athlon 64 and the Athlon 64 FX processor takes the computing world to new heights. Up until now we have been immersed in the world of 32-bit computing. AMD contends that the Athlon 64 FX, designed for gamers, PC enthusiasts, and digital content creators, is the world’s highest performing 32- and 64-bit processor.
64-bit computing really refers to registers which can handle 64-bits of information. The registers are the storage areas in the CPU (Central Processing Unit). All data or addresses to that data must be represented in a register before that data can be processed. So the size of the register greatly affects the processing power and speed of the CPU. It may sound like a 64-bit register would be twice as large and twice as fast as a 32-bit register, but it is far more complicated. Since a computer uses the binary language, which has only two digits, a 32-bit register can address 232 bits of data, which rounds out to about 4GB. The 64-bit architecture can address 264 bits of data which can address about 18 million terabytes of information. This means that the dynamic data stream of information is dramatically increased with 64-bit computing.
This new capability to handle an increased amount of data simultaneously will result in improved processing power which will be especially obvious in gaming and video software when their programs are written to take advantage of the new 64-bit architecture. Video will be smoother even when shown in large windows. Games will be more lifelike with better animation.
Virtually all software currently available is written for the common 32-bit processors. Software will have to be specially designed and compiled to take advantage of the new 64-bit computer power. This will, however, happen quite rapidly. Gaming software manufacturers are chomping at the bit to get into 64-bit processing since their programs will be faster and more lifelike on a 64-bit machine. Microsoft’s announcement of a Windows XP 64-Bit Edition beta version shows the support that the software world is expected to give to 64-bit computing. Intel, AMD’s major competitor, is also developing a 64-bit chip.
While you may not want to run out and purchase a 64-bit computer right now, there is little doubt that 64-bit computing will be a part of your future.
