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Linus on Intel's 64 bit Extensions

Posted by michael on from the amd-inside dept.

ceswiedler writes "KernelTrap is running a thread on the Linux-Kernel mailing list about Intel's new IA-32e 64-bit chip. Linus complains 'what I found so irritating is that _hours_ after the Intel announcement, people were _still_ confused about whether the new intel chip was actually compatible with AMD's chips.' It is, of course, but you have to do a thorough comparison of Intel's reference manuals to discover that-- they don't mention the fact that their new chip is instruction-set compatible with AMD's x86-64 chip." See the previous story for background. So it looks like the reason Intel was vague about their announcement is that they didn't want the WORLD TO KNOW THAT THEY WERE COPYING AND FOLLOWING AMD rather than developing some new thing on their own. Slashdot is proud to help Intel in this quest; wouldn't want the public to know that INTEL WAS SIMPLY FOLLOWING IN AMD'S FOOTSTEPS. Hope this helps.

3 of 720 comments (clear)

  1. There can be only one by mapmaker · · Score: 5, Interesting
    This is Microsoft's doing. They laid down the law and said there would be only ONE 64-bit version of Windows XP, and since AMD's 64-bit instruction set was out first that's the one they used.

    Intel had no choice but to use AMD's instructions if they wanted their chips to be Windows-compatible.

  2. Re:Talk about walking a fine line. by r0xah · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Intel doesn't have to be as careful as you may think. The general public has no idea about Intel/AMD differences. This makes it much easier on Intel to just keep producing crap that is just couple tenths of a gigahertz faster and pass it off for a few hundred more dollars and make more profit. AMD is still not close to taking the processor lead.

    --
    those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. -isaac asimov
  3. Not just embarrassment, also Itanic. by nukem1999 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Downplaying the announcement wasn't just to keep down the shame of following their chief rival, it was also to confuse those in the current market for a new server. From what I understand, Itanium/Itanic has been a serious flop thus far. What will the motivation be for IT departments to buy Itaniums now if they know something more compatible and better for them is coming along Real Soon Now?