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Introduction to 64-bit Computing and x86-64

Posted by michael on from the peace-love-and-understanding dept.

James writes "Ars Technica has an article up explaining 64-bit computing from the x86 angle, specifically from the angle of AMD's Hammer. The article explains the details in that usual Ars style, and I found it very useful for thinking about what kinds of applications I may want to put to the test on one of these when we get a box in the office. Even non-x86 freaks may appreciate this, since it breaks down some of the basic advantages of 64-bit computing, and just who can expect to see gains in the near future."

2 of 259 comments (clear)

  1. Cost advantage? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Flamebait

    I've read up on AMD's and Intel's 64 bit computing and its improvements over 32 bit. But the improvements over 32 bit just aren't worth the extra cost and administration time that home and small business users can afford. Lets wait until most large businesses that can afford the extra cost and hassle adopt 64bit before we home users do. Just wait and look for real advantages over 32 bit before we all jump on the 64 bit bandwagon.

  2. Re:Wrong about underflow by rabtech · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    "underflow is when you're trying to represent a fractional number smaller than the smallest floating point number available. ie: you went too close to zero."

    Not when talking about integers smarty. No one was talking about floating point.

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