Windows Vista 64-bit Computing
Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit Editions
Windows Vista 64 Bit:
Historically, the 64-bit edition of Windows XP hasn’t been a runaway hit. It’s not really surprising in many ways: the x64 version was a rather specialist product built off the Windows Server 2003 codebase, which traded a loss of support for a number of features (including .NET Framework and DirectX in early releases) in return for the ability to address vast amounts of memory from a single process.
Since the AMD64 and Intel EMT64 ranges of processors happen to run 32-bit code extremely quickly, it’s not surprising that even though probably the majority of machines sold these days are 64-bit capable, they are running the standard 32-bit version of the Windows XP operating system, with the 64-bit edition used mostly for workstation-class tasks such as engineering and scientific applications.
In Windows Vista, the choice becomes far more pertinent for most people. Gone are the limitations of the 64-bit edition in terms of what software comes shipped with the
operating system: a “Longhorn Basic” requirement for any feature to have been accepted into the operating system was to be supported on both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms. But the 64-bit version also takes advantage of the hardware to offer some attractive security features that are exclusive to that platform. On the downside, you’ll still see weaker down-level compatibility on the 64-bit platform: for example, we don’t support 16-bit code from the Windows 3.x days (which is a little more of an issue than many people realize due to the inclusion of 16-bit code in the installers for some decidedly 32-bit applications).
The choice is an interesting one, and by far the best article I’ve seen explaining the differences between the two platforms in detail is from Paul Thurrott’s Windows Supersite. It succinctly defines the pitfalls and strengths of each choice. It’s also worth checking out the Windows Vista Product Guide for more details. I’m considering holding out for one of the new Merom-based notebooks that will contain dual-core, hyperthreaded 64-bit processors: so much power in one portable machine that it makes me drool!
Does this Architecture Change Make a Difference?
Introduction
By now, many people have probably heard the various reports about 64-bit computing coming to consumers. Apple was the first to offer the hardware with a 64-bit processor with their new G5 system. AMD has just released its Athlon 64 processor that has support for the first 64-bit operating system (a variant of Linux). But is this shift to 64-bit computing going to be a huge boon for the consumers?
Understanding Bits
All computer processors are based on binary math because of the transistors that comprise the semiconductors inside the chips. To put things in very simple terms, a bit is a single 1 or 0 either stored or processed by a transistor. All processors are referred to by their bit processing ability. For approximately the last 10 years or so, 32-bit computing has been used since the introduction of Intel’s 386 platform. So what does the bit count mean?
This bit rating of the processor determines the largest numerical number that processor can handle. The largest number that can be processed in a single clock cycle will be equivalent to 2 to the power of the bit rating. Thus, a 32-bit processor can handle a number up to 2^32 or roughly 4.3 billion. Any number greater than this will require more than one clock cycle to process. A 64-bit processor on the other hand can handle a number of a 2^64 or roughly 18.4 quintillion (18,400,000,000,000,000,000). This means that a 64-bit processor would be able to more efficiently handle large number mathematics.
Memory is the Key
One of the other items directly affected by the bit rating of the processor is the amount of memory that the system can support and access. Let’s take a look at the current 32-bit platforms of today. Currently 32-bit processors and operating system can support a total of 4 gigabytes of memory in the computer. Of the 4 gigabytes of memory, the operating systems can only allocate 2 gigabytes of memory to a given application.
Looking at the Athlon 64, AMD included support for 40-bits of memory registers rather than 64-bits. Even with this cost cutting measure, the Athlon 64 is able to support a total system memory of approximately 136GB of RAM. This is well beyond what the memory market can even supply to computers currently. In addition to this, a 64-bit operating system can also allocate an individual 4GB block of memory for each application.
Now for most consumers, this won’t make much of a difference because most home systems don’t even come with 1GB of memory, but for high-end users that do CAD/CAM or scientific research, this can make a huge difference. It also is very important for server systems running large applications such as databases.
What is a 64-bit CPU without a 64-bit OS?
So far we have been talking about the capabilities of the processors based on their architecture, but there is a key point to be made here. The full use of a processor is only as good as the software written for it. Running a 64-bit processor with a 32-bit operating system is going to end up wasting a large amount of the computing potential of processor. The 32-bit operating system is only going to use half the registers of the processor thus limiting its computing ability. It will still have all the same limitations on it that an existing 32-bit processor has with the same OS.
This is actually a fairly large problem. Most architecture changes such as 64-bit processors generally require a completely new set of programs be written for them.
This is a large problem for both the hardware makers and the software makers. The software companies don’t want to write the new software until the hardware is out there to support their software sales. Of course, the hardware people can’t sell their product unless there is software to support it. This is one of the major reasons why enterprise CPUs such as the IA-64 Itanium from Intel had problems. There was little software written for the architecture and its 32-bit emulation to run the existing operating systems severely crippled the CPU.
So, how are AMD and Apple getting around this problem? Apple has started added 64-bit patches for its operating system. This adds some additional support, but it is still running on a 32-bit OS. AMD has taken a different route. It has designed its processor to handle the native x86 32-bit operating systems and then added additional 64-bit registers. This allows the processor to run 32-bit code as effectively as a 32-bit processor, but with the current 64-bit versions of Linux or the upcoming Windows XP 64 it will utilize the full processing potential of the CPU.
Is the Time Right for 64-bit Computing?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. The industry is reaching the limits of 32-bit computing for much of the higher end computer market such as enterprise and power users. If computers are to increase in speeds and processing power, it is necessary to make the jump to the next generation of processors. These are systems that generally require much more memory and large number calculations that will get the direct benefits of a 64-bit platform.
Consumers are a different matter. Much of the tasks that the average consumer does on the computer are more than adequately covered by the existing 32-bit architecture. Eventually, users will get to the point where the switch to 64-bit computing will make sense, but currently it does not. How many consumers out there will likely even have 4 gigabytes of memory in a computer system even in the next two years?
The real benefits of 64-bit computing will eventually trickle down to the consumers. Manufacturers and software developers like to limit the variety of products that they have to support to try and reduce costs. Because of this, they will eventually focus solely on the production of 64-bit hardware and software. Until that time, it is going to be a bumpy ride for those who choose to be early adopters.
Windows Vista and 64 Bit Computing
Virtually every Windows Vista edition (with the exception of Starter) will ship with both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions on the same DVD. Microsoft expects the computer buying public to switch to x64 during Vista’s lifetime. There will not be an Itanium version of Windows Vista.
Source: About.com
Windows Vista is here in both 32 bit and 64 bit versions. Both versions have their pros and cons and their idiosyncrasies.
Do you have any thoughts about 64 Bit Vista or any experiences with 64 Bit Vista you would like to share?
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