Do you have to have an A64 to run 64bit OS?

[chinese]

This may seem like a dumb question but do you HAVE to have a 64bit processor to be able to run Microsoft's new 64bit OS whenever it comes out or will a P4 or Athlon XP be able to run it but just slower.

[odoe]

You'll need a 64 bit proc to run a a 64 bit OS. So you'll need an A64 or Itanium or one of those new Xeons (I think the 64 is coming out). But if you get an A64, it is backwards compatible with a 32 bit OS.

[chinese]

doh, any idea when the new OS is due to come out? If it late 2006 or something then I'll just put together a 2500+ system for now.

[M11]

doh, any idea when the new OS is due to come out? If it late 2006 or something then I'll just put together a 2500+ system for now.
Don't. 64 bit is the future, and it would be nice to have an architecture immune to microsoft's little carnival game aka longhorn. Besides, the 64 bit processors are fast even with 32bit OSes, and 64 bit linux is here.

[odoe]

I'm not sure exactly, but seriously if you are in the market to build a new pc today, there should be nothing stopping you from going A64. The prices are really not bad, it is 100% compatible with the current Windows XP and you get a nice performance boost from the extra cache and you'll be ready for when 64 bit OS does come out. You could also download an evaluation version of the 64 bit WinXP for free, see the sticky above. I just see very little reason to build a new pc and not go A64 at this point.

[M11]

I'm not sure exactly, but seriously if you are in the market to build a new pc today, there should be nothing stopping you from going A64. The prices are really not bad, it is 100% compatible with the current Windows XP and you get a nice performance boost from the extra cache and you'll be ready for when 64 bit OS does come out. You could also download an evaluation version of the 64 bit WinXP for free, see the sticky above. I just see very little reason to build a new pc and not go A64 at this point.
This man speaks the truth.

Although I must offer a warning about 64bit windows-driver compatibility is nonexistent. Check the HCL thoroughly before installing. Many items simply will not work, and it sucks having done a format to figure that out.

[chinese]

bah, guess I won't have enough for a new comp and the samsung 213T :mad:

[DSK]

You'll need a 64 bit proc to run a a 64 bit OS. So you'll need an A64 or Itanium or one of those new Xeons (I think the 64 is coming out). But if you get an A64, it is backwards compatible with a 32 bit OS.

Umm, I could be wrong so please, do correct me if I am. What I have heard is that Service Pack 2 for Windows XP will be taking full advantage of the new 64 bit processors. However if you happen to not have a 64 bit processor you will still be able to run Windows without any hangups or "Non Tipical" problems. You just wont be able to take advantage of the 64 bit processing. :cool:

[m1abram]

You'll need a 64 bit proc to run a a 64 bit OS. So you'll need an A64 or Itanium or one of those new Xeons (I think the 64 is coming out). But if you get an A64, it is backwards compatible with a 32 bit OS.

You left out UltraSparcs and Alphas, and I am sure a few others ;)

UltraSparcs have been doing the 64bit dance for a LONG time now. Course they have not improved much over the past few years.

[djnes]

Umm, I could be wrong so please, do correct me if I am. What I have heard is that Service Pack 2 for Windows XP will be taking full advantage of the new 64 bit processors. However if you happen to not have a 64 bit processor you will still be able to run Windows without any hangups or "Non Tipical" problems. You just wont be able to take advantage of the 64 bit processing. :cool:


Well considering XP is a 32 bit OS, it really doesn't matter what processor it is. A service pack isn't going to suddenly change a 32 bit OS into a 64 bit OS.

[icthus13]

By "take full advantage" of the AMD64 processors, what they mean is that SP2 will enable the built-in antivirus capabilities of the processor, the name of which escapes me.

[m1abram]

By "take full advantage" of the AMD64 processors, what they mean is that SP2 will enable the built-in antivirus capabilities of the processor, the name of which escapes me.

I think you are talking about the Do Not Execute bit, which wont protect from viruses, but will greatly help against exploits in code. Particularly buffer overflow exploits.

[ameoba]

Well... You could always use an AMD64 simulator... It'd be slow as hell, but it's possible (and from my CS Theory course, I can tell you that it can be done with no more than a quadratic increase in computation time :) )


That's what the guys porting OSes to the arch had to do before any hardware was actually available.