I_banker, chipguy - that's interesting. Intel(or at least Robert Manetta at Intel) seems to think differently. (Intel Corporation Robert Manetta, 408-765-7082 robert.i.manetta@intel.com)
By INQUIRER staff: Wednesday 24 December 2003, 10:55 A REPORT ON Investor's Business Daily has quoted an Intel representative as confirming the existence of an X86-64 chip. Such a processor would be similar to AMD's Athlon 64 family.
The report quotes Intel representative Robert Manetta as saying it has "a working prototype of a 64-bit X86 design that it could bring to market when customers request it".
To the best of our knowledge, if this remark is reported accurately, it is the first time Intel has publicly acknowledged the existence of an X86-64 alternative.
Last September we reported an Intel employee telling us about extensions to the X86 platform, probably in the shape of the Pentium V.
You can find the Investor Business Daily story here. µ