What Improvements Will 64-Bit Processors Bring?

RyanG asks: "Everyone always looks at numbers (MHz, RAM, HD) when they're considering buying a new computer. Recently, more users have been eyeing bits, as in 64-bit processors, namely the Itanium and to a lesser extent the G5. A lot of people remember the performance increases that were seen when moving from 16 to 32-bit processors and some people seem to think similar performance increases will be realized when moving from 32 to 64-bit pocessors. From what I've read this isn't going to be the case given that 64-bit percision isn't needed in all but a few cases and that moving around that extra data can actually hurt the performance of 64-bit processors when compared to 32-bit processors. Anyone care to comment?"

Comments

Average Joe Doesn't Push It

[Nater]

Think about what the average home/office user is doing on the computer and how much processing power it really takes to make that cursor blink. The simple fact is that for a typical office suite and web browser, current technology is overkill. Some people like to play audio, video, or games on their computers and that takes some more processing power, but it's nothing that pushes the limits of modern hardware (you gamers who say you can tell the difference between 100 and 125 FPS are lying... that's 1.5 to 2 times your monitor's refresh rate).

People are going to get the hot new toys because they're hot new toys and then be really disappointed when everything they've been doing doesn't get any better.

Somebody somewhere might develop the killer app that makes a 64-bit processor make sense for home and desktop users, and I can think of a few things that have the potential to take off like that, but until then the new hardware will basically be a "my dick is bigger than yours" type of thing. I honestly hope that killer app comes sooner rather than later because whatever it is, it'll be killer.