[ale] OT: 64 bit laptops

[Greg]

The advantages are as the thread has stated: you can address more than 4 GB
of RAM (very few apps need to do this), you can use numbers greater than
2^32 easily (very few apps need to do this), etc etc.. I think you are
confused on how the cpu operates.  Just because you can address 64 bits does
not mean that you have to do this or that you normally would do this in day
to day apps.  A 64 bit processor does not work at twice the speed of a 32
bit processor.  An instruction is an instruction on any machine.  However,
since many machines that need 64 bits also require bigger/faster/better
abilities to move data they are thus perceived as faster - due to their
overall architecure is so much better than that of a normal home type box
regarding bus sizes etc etc.

A good example is my Sun Blade 100 that is 64 bit and runs at 500 MHz.  It
is a dog at Java (invented by the same folks who made the box - Sun
Microsystems) runnning on Solaris (also Sun).  I assure you that it is not
twice as fast as a comparable 32 bit box unless you play to it's strengths.

Greg

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org]On Behalf Of
> Stephen Turner
> Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 10:53 PM
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
> Subject: RE: [ale] OT: 64 bit laptops
>
>
>
> so then if linux was made not compiled but programmed for 64 bit
> operations THEN it would be better than running 32 bit equiv? i dont
> understand the move to 64 if its overall a waste, (there being a couple
> server side 64s no need for desktops) aside from the 64bit registers there
> has to be some major computing advantage or there would be no point in 64!
>
>
> Work is
> > currently
> > being done to bring a 64 bit userland into useability. As you can
> > imagine
> > this is real in depth programming.
>
>
> =====
> **  computers are a lot like air conditioners, they stop working
> properly once you open windows **
>
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