Replies to post #26572 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[jhalada]

wbmw,

At the fundamental technical side of things, IA32E is an instruction extension - a microcode edit.

Instruction extention - yes, microcode edit - no.

You are only propogating the marketing myth,

I thought that's what you were doing.

trying to make it sound like something special.

Who said it is anything special? It is a straight forward extention of the 386 instruction set. I am not sure why you are going out of your way trying to belittle it.

Joe

[sgolds]

wbmw, the marketing myth is on the part of Intel -

Joe, get real. At the fundamental technical side of things, IA32E is an instruction extension - a microcode edit. You are only propogating the marketing myth, trying to make it sound like something special.

If you run an OS and application in 64-bit mode, it is a different opcode and there is no 32-bit around to extend. Have a look at the programming manuals if you do not believe me, they are on the AMD site.

Intel is trying to have it both ways - serve the market and protect Itanium. It will not work.

[fastpathguru]

At the fundamental technical side of things, IA32E is an instruction extension - a microcode edit.

As an AMD investor, I sure hope this is Intel's technique for adding AMD64 compatibility.

fpg

[UpNDown]

wbmw, on IA32e as simple extension

We've been around this bend before (#msg-1377895, #msg-1145908, #msg-1380235 and follow-ups). Let me restate it:

The race for the dominant computer architecture is over. With AMD64, the x86 line has won. It's done, done, done and AMD64 is the ultimate winner!

===

I have only one question for this: why? What possible advantage is there for a consumer or business to buy anything other than an x64 processor now that AMD64 is available?

Perhaps I'll state my belief boldly enough so that you can fire directly at it: AMD64 brings the x86 architecture to the point where it can satisfy 99% of requirements. With the volume advantage enjoyed by x86 producers, any other architecture is going to find itself fighting for scraps. [excluding embedded]

===

The more I think about it, though, the more sense it makes. That AMD seems to have introduced the crowning glory of computer architectures is simply amazing.

[HailMary]

At the fundamental technical side of things, IA32E is an instruction extension - a microcode edit.

It is a lot more than that! There are a significant number of hardware changes needed to support IA32E (assuming it is fully compatible with AMD64). Take a look at the AMD64 system programming manual to get an idea of the changes and how that would affect the hardware implementation. The microcode edit is a very small part of the overall changes required.

I think the new long mode is a pretty big deal. Being able to have the O/S run in 64-bit mode while apps can run in 32-bit is the most important point. This is what will make both AMD64 and IA32E hugely successful. This doesn't rule out IA64. There is still a place for it, but it is rather small. I'm not convinced that niche segment can be profitable.