Replies to post #19504 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[jhalada]

Elmer,

The OS needs the drivers. Apps just call the Windows (or other OS) APIs, and APIs potentially call driver functions. Apps are insulated from hardware by the OS.

Joe

[HailMary]

You are partially correct. A 64 bit OS is necessary for running 64 bit apps for many reasons (o/s needs to know memory mapping, registers for state saving, switching processor modes, etc.). And 64 bit drivers and libraries will be necessary for these 64 bit apps as well.

All the 32 bit apps, however, will continue to use the legacy 32 bit drivers.

A 32/64 hybrid OS is going to have 2 sets of drivers and libraries - legacy 32 bit and the new 64 bit.

So MSFT could release a 64 bit o/s today with limited 64 bit drivers and libraries (essentially what the beta is now), and it would run all existing 32 bit apps with the current 32 bit drivers. The problem comes in with the new 64 bit apps not having all the needed 64 drivers and libraries ported. They can't use the 32 bit drivers and libraries.

edit - looks like I'm wrong about the drivers as I posted 2 messages down

HailMary

[sgolds]

Elmer, yes -

Correct me if I'm wrong but it will take a 64 bit operating system to run a 64 bit application, right? If so, then all the 32-bit applications will need new 64-bit drivers to run under the 64-bit operating system, no?

And your point is? :)

Linux has been out and about now since April. (The IBM Opteron database product runs on Linux.) Windows Beta is available. If someone wanted to purchase a new Opteron system right now with a 64-bit OS, it would come complete with all the necessary 64-bit drivers. Supplying the drivers for a new system is the easy part; the only people who will have an issue will be anyone who tries to port legacy hardware to an Opteron system. The tinkerers will have to find drivers for their old stuff.

Certainly not an issue for a corporate implementer.