bep207 said:
Really, very few people need a 64bit processor.**
Generally, when we talk about 64bit CPUs we mean two things.. the CPU has 64bit Integer registers and it can address 64bit memory addresses.
Since we're talking about laptops, I'll start off with memory.* There is not reason in they world why you need to address 64bit memory addresses on a laptop.* No current laptops can address near 32bits of memory let alone 64bits.* For non-signed integers (zero on up not negative to negative) that is enough address space for 4GB of RAM at 32bit.* Laptops still max at 2GB and the next leap will be 4GB when memory densities increase.. a lot.**
Now, on to the integer math.* Forgive me for this but a quick primer.. when we talk about integer math that is math with whole numbers, like 2+2.* Floating point math would be 2.00+2.00.* In this case, the math is really the same but we know that it's accurate to 2 decimal places.* Floats really become important when we need to get a better idea of what this equals: **2/3=x. **Sure it's two thirds, but mathematically it's .66666666... and on and on and on.* The more 'precision' we have (the more spaces.. the more BITS) the more accurate our result will be.* This may seem silly when talking about 2/3 because .667 is way more than enough for common human tasks but when you've got a bridge that is 2 miles long and you're calculating the angle of deflection from one bank so that the bridge will exactly meet the other half right in the middle, you want to be pretty precise.* Strictly speaking you can do 64bit integer math on a 32bit processor by using two 32bit registers and a bit of hocus pocus but it's MUCH slower than native 64bit operations.
So, what are the big Integers good for?
In the real world.. Encryption/decription uses a lot of large integers.* Some 3D games have gotten a little boost from 64 bit chips (from their larger registers).**
Mostly.. [since I support Researchers] the bulk of uses would be in science and research.* Engineers, mathematicians, scientists of all ilks could have use for calulations that employ very large (positive or negative) whole numbers.*
This is why I'm not too impressed with the Merom so far.* It will be faster because the architecture has been revised since the Core Duo 32bit chips were finalized.* Merom is just plain faster.* It's got more L2 Cache too which also makes it faster.* The problem is, according to Intel, the Merom won't be any hotter than the current mobile chips but it won't run as cool (there is a big difference between max and minimum power use).* Basically.. I don't have a dire use for 64bit registers in a laptop.* I'm not searching the Genome.. I'm not grinding through huge calculations or simulations in Mathematica or Maple or some custom code.* Even the slight boost I might get from a game will be lost on a laptop because the video isn't fast enough to take advantage of it.
If Merom truely were better in every respect than the current Core Duo I'd want one.. but though it will be faster, it will eat through battery time faster and I'm more interested in the Battery life.
I just realized I got off track a bit.. I don't have a specific list of X applications that will be faster on a laptop with real 64bit support.* Some image filters might be faster.* Anything intensive might benefit though I can't think of good examples right now.* Speaking of image editing.. many scanners now support color palates over 32 bit.*
64bit support can't really hurt performance wise but it doesn't always help.* Sometimes it doesn't help at all.* Generally.. it is useful when you have LOTS of memory (over 4GB RAM) and OODLES of storage capacity.* 64bit chips can directly address Exabytes of data.* That's a lot.
