Is intel really 64 bit?

Hadogenes

Hadogenes

New Member
Hello,
Is intel really 64 bit, I am asking, because I have read somewhere that intel only handle 64 bit instructions and it isn't really 64 bit.
And what Intel64 is?
After that I have also a question about Pentium Dual-Core T2310 (my processor), what do you suggest: install 64 bit system or 32 bit system (Linux), currently I am running 64 bit system.

Greet, Hadogenes
 
if you're running a 64-bit system, then the processor is 64-bit. there's no two ways about it.

keep 64-bit installed as it can handle the installation of much more memory. the maximum a 32-bit system can handle is just under 4gb of memory (4 billion bytes, not 4gb according to windows standard of 1024mb)
 
All processors both Intel and AMD alike are 64bit capatible. 5yrs. ago the old single core models were still limited to 32bit then while the first 64bit capable cpus were being introduced. It no longer matters whether you run 32 or 64bit OSs.

The main problem still seen somewhat with the release of Vista seeing more 64bit edtions of Windows as well as Linux seeing some there is a lack of drivers. XP Pro64 and the early Linux 64bit releases sadly lacked support. Linux being an open source OS however soon realizes a newer release of each distro and now sees a bit more driver support from various companies while still lacking for the 64bit.
 
yea i actually had a lot of trouble with drivers for 64-bit XP professional, but with Vista rarely do i find compatibility problems, and when i do find a problem it's normally a quick fix because i downloaded the wrong thing or something.

actually, iTunes was the only big problem i had with xp x64. apples website wouldn't even download a 64-bit version, and the 32-bit version wouldn't work with a lot of its features like burning cds. iTunes works fine with Vista x64 though.
 
The 32it version of ITunes is generally very reliable and goes on easy. I'm regularly seeing the prompts for the latest updates. Along with XP Pro64 there are a lot of complaints heard on the 64bit Linux distro as far as people always looking for drivers.

The 24bit and now 32bit distros are realizing mainstream support since Vista's release however. Just go through a large number of driver download pages to see that.

Eventually when everyone is running a 64bit OS by default following the next version of Windows and likely newer 64bit distros? more support will be seen. The one advantage realized with Linux however is the smaller size of the OS where you can easily dual or multiple boot both 32 and 64bit releases of any distros.
 
yeah intel makes 86_64 cpus (most ones, like the core2duo) as well as true 64-bit only CPUs which use a whole new instruction set e.g the Itanium.
 
Hadogenes said:
Hello,
Is intel really 64 bit, I am asking, because I have read somewhere that intel only handle 64 bit instructions and it isn't really 64 bit.
And what Intel64 is?
Click to expand...

Well if your talking about the X86-64 as in like the Core 2 and Athlon 64 I guess you could say no, its not a true 64 bit processor. If it was a full fledged 64 bit procesor it could not run a 32 bit OS or 32 bit programs. They can run 32 bit OS and programs or run a 64 bit OS with 32 bit programs installed or 64 bit OS and 64 bit programs. Its sorta a X86 instruction set with 64 superset on top of it.
 
yeah, a true 64 bit cpu would be the itanium.

And its just 64 bit instructions that are new to dekstop pcs. Its had a 64 bit data bus since the days of the pentium 1.
 
64bit cpus have been around since the '60s. But you see those in servers and workstations only like the RISC type by HP. IBM and SUN Microsystems also have their own. Often those will be used for scientific applications.
 
Hadogenes said:
Hello,
Is intel really 64 bit, I am asking, because I have read somewhere that intel only handle 64 bit instructions and it isn't really 64 bit.
And what Intel64 is?
After that I have also a question about Pentium Dual-Core T2310 (my processor), what do you suggest: install 64 bit system or 32 bit system (Linux), currently I am running 64 bit system.

Greet, Hadogenes
Click to expand...

hi,, człowiek, JA zamierzam próbują wypróbowywać wpisywać na maszynie Język polski; blask. Wybaczają mnie jeżeli wyrabiam błędy jak ponieważ zapominam tego.

Thats my best shot at polish man...been so long//..I can read and understand polish but i struggle with remembering to type.
 
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PC eye said:
64bit cpus have been around since the '60s. But you see those in servers and workstations only like the RISC type by HP. IBM and SUN Microsystems also have their own. Often those will be used for scientific applications.
Click to expand...

Wasnt the N64 actually a 64-bit processor and thats what gave it its name?

And correct me if im wrong, but didnt AMD basically steal the whole 64-bit thing from Intel many many years ago when designing THEIR 64 Athlons? At least thats what i heard.....something along those lines....
 
Mustardsky said:
whats the difference between 34 bit and 64 bit
Click to expand...

Not much at all right now. More memory bandwidth and alot more memory efficiency when you have over 4GB.

Performance differences are nearly none, maybe in programs like 3D Design and video editing youll notice a slight increase in loading times but i never noticed anything worth the effort of a 64-bit OS.
 
Mustardsky said:
thx but will it effect game play or graphics
Click to expand...

Nope.

Far Cry claimed to have had more detailed graphics in the 64-bit version that were limited in the 32-bit version due to optimization however i ran both on a 64-bit and 32-bit OS and they looked nearly the same. I can say though the 64-bit did give slightly better performance but nothing worth the trouble of buying a 64-bit OS. Maybe 5fps, and thats an ancient game from 2004 so chances are unless the games optimized for 64-bit (which most arnt, though they will have patches to run it) it wont have any effect.
 
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The 24bit and now 32bit distros are realizing mainstream support since Vista's release however. Just go through a large number of driver download pages to see that.
Click to expand...
24 and 32 bit?
More memory bandwidth and alot more memory efficiency when you have over 4GB.
Click to expand...
64-bit OS/CPU does not increase the bandwidth, it only allows more memory locations to be addressed, but has no effect on bandwidth whatsoever. But they do remove the 4GB barrier, and by today's standards the amount of memory that can be addressed is in practice limitless.
And correct me if im wrong, but didnt AMD basically steal the whole 64-bit thing from Intel many many years ago when designing THEIR 64 Athlons?
Click to expand...
Nope. Intel had been making 64-bit CPUs before, but they were for servers/workstations and totally incompatible with x86 instruction set. AMD made the first 64-bit mainstream CPU that was fully x86 compatible (Athlon 64), and Intel was the one to "steal" the idea of 64-bit processing for average consumers, though I'm not sure if that can be called stealing as they would've had to go 64-bit earlier or later because of limitations of 32-bit systems - but AMD sure made the transition faster, at least.
 
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So you suggest to stay with 64 bit linux.
I have tried vista 64 and it sucks (so I even didn't try XP64), but linux 64 works well, only some apps like adobe reader, when they are loading computer freezes for few sec.

scooter said:
hi,, człowiek, JA zamierzam próbują wypróbowywać wpisywać na maszynie Język polski; blask. Wybaczają mnie jeżeli wyrabiam błędy jak ponieważ zapominam tego.

Thats my best shot at polish man...been so long//..I can read and understand polish but i struggle with remembering to type.
Click to expand...
PL (for scooter): Nie źle, nie źle dobrze, że próbujesz :)
Chyba rzeczywiście nie korzystasz z polskiego na co dzień, ale i tak jest całkiem dobrze i jest mniej więcej zrozumiałe.

ENG (for else): Not bad, not bad good that you try :)
You really don't use polish everyday, but it still is pretty well and it is more or less clear.
 
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