when might it be worth while

[c44151]

so with the new amd 64 and the new windows xp 64bit and no games or maby software that I know of yet how long do you think it will take till it is worth while to get this meaning that there is new 64 bit hardware/games.

sine we are on the processor I have a quick question
the amd 3200+(asumming regualr and 64) is the 3200+ mean it is equivalent to the intel p4 @3.2ghz even though it is at a 2.2ghz

[rpertusio]

well, I would say the first step in the right direction would be to have Microsoft Windows (XP 64-bit edition) out. Microsoft intends to complete it sometime in the first half of 2004. In reality though, I would speculate that much of the 'true' 64-bit games/applications/etc will only start appearing in the latter part of 2004 and 2005. (That is pure speculation, however.) But, don't let that stop you from getting one, if you're in the market for a new processor/motherboard, etc.

As for the "3200+", you could roughly compare it to a Pentium4 @3.2Ghz, but AMD will never come right out and say that. Rather, they use this performance rating to show that a higher GHz (in a P4 for example) doesn't necessarily mean it is insanely faster. Do a web search for benchmarks for these processors, and you can see exactly how they compare.

- rp

[jmichna]

c44151...
The November '03 issue of Maximum PC (starts pg 56) has a very good article covering both the Athlon-64 and the Athlon 64 FX-51 CPUs. Article also compares several benchmarks between these two and the P-4C 3200.

Good read :thumbsup:
jmichna

[blubomber]

I have read that there are some games that have already been reworked as 64bit. I can not recall which games but somebody else might have the information.

Also, i would be that some of the bigger companies like Adobe would come out with 64bit versions of their software, like Illustrator and Photoshop, in 2004 maybe.

Also remeber that you can purchase the Athlon 64bit and windows XP 64bit when they are available and still run all of your 32bit apps in that environment. then as 64bit applications and games come out, you can upgrade as needed.

[c44151]

now hardware wise is let say the ati radoon 9800xt is it in 32 bit or I am I thinking this all wrong.

I was thinking since I have a lot of time during school for the next 6 months doing some reserch and maby building a dream system over the next months.

[rpertusio]

Originally posted by blubomber
I have read that there are some games that have already been reworked as 64bit. I can not recall which games but somebody else might have the information.

In fact, Unreal Tournament 2003 (from Epic Games) can be updated to use pure 64-bit code. (I should clarify.. Epic intended to release a patch when Athlon64 was launched, but I haven't checked to see if they actually released it yet.)

- rp

[blubomber]

All of the hardware will work in windows xp 64bit as long as the manufacturer releases 64bit versions of the drivers, or the 64bit drivers are included with windows XP 64bit.

Happy Halloween!!