Outpost 3: Genesis

[zigzagjoe]

er, the itanium had some kind of mapping for x86(which was slow as hell); and the amd64 is a x86-compatible core, hence it can run 16/32 bit progs in 64bit mode with no speed penalty due to instruction compatibility. also, it allows for the proc to run in 32bit mode with no speed penalty. there is no emulation involved.

NOTE: AMD64 != EM64T !!
          EM64T is intel's (crappy) partial implementation of AMD64, and is more strapped on then built in like in a true AMD64 proc. Hence, there is not as big increase in speed and there is no increased memory restriction (from 4gb), among other things. Conclusion: the pentium 4 is a dead horse that intel has been poundin on for way too long and is basicly a outdated POS with a few strapped on extensions.

[BlackBox]

Right. On a P4 system the rest of the system is still 32 bit (the FSB, etc)

That explains the 4 gig memory limit.

There shouldn't be much of a performance hit (if any) to run 32 bit software on a 64 bit CPU. Yes, it won't be as fast as a 64 bit version, but it won't be any slower than it would on a comparable 32 bit CPU. (It's still commonplace to use 16 bit code on a 32 bit CPU. Examples include system startup. 16 bit code is executed when the OS bootstraps. (Disassemble the first sector of a floppy disk if you don't believe it).

Also, since when do you need 32 bit relative jumps anyway?

[leeor_net]

You see, I am always thinking in terms of Intel. I will say this: Before the P4, I was all Intel. The PIII was awesome.

But then I got my first AMD CPU, the AMD Athlon Thunderbird. 1.0Ghz CPU.

Ever since, what can I say?

Intel slacked off, AMD rules.

I have had the opportunity to test the demo on an AMD64 and it was actually pretty sweet.

Conclusion: Run it on a proper CPU. If you have a regular P4, you should be fine. If you're using Intel's attempt into the 64-Bit market, you're at a serious loss.

[zigzagjoe]

yeah, the PIII was a good cpu. but the p4 was intels downfall. its currently being owned by PIII-based designs (pent m and such), and itnel issues a statement sometime saying that the P4 was not going to be used in future designs.

 AMD started owning intel's ass then and hasnt let up yet, with the AMD64 being the latest and greatest tech. So yeah intel sux with its strapped on crap, hyperthreadin, 64bit, and such that really dont give much of a benfit without redoing a cpu (much like how the amd64 came about; a complete new cpu design).