64-bit processor herals new desktop computing era

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With the launch of Advanced Micro Devices' (AMD) Athlon 64 family of processors in September, this year could indeed be the start of a new era in desktop computing.

Previously, Apple Computer had also introduced its latest Power Mac desktops, powered by IBM's state-of-the-art PowerPC G5 processor, in June.

The reason why these new processors are so interesting -- and are considered to be such a breakthrough -- is that they all bear 64-bit computing capabilities. Also, they are deliberately meant for the desktop market segment.

This is unlike any other 64-bit processor before -- such as DEC's Alpha, Hewlet-Packard's PA-RISC, IBM's POWER, and Sun Microsystem's UltraSPARC -- which have actually been around for some time in the computer world, but are usually intended for high-end servers and workstations.

So why now, this Promethean act of bringing 64-bit processors from the niche of servers and workstations to the common world of desktops?

The answer lies in the emerging blur of definitions between today's servers, workstations and desktops. The computing power and resources of today's desktops are no less than that of servers or workstations. It is even a common practice nowadays to utilize ordinary desktops in place of servers and workstations.

So when desktops are used for networking, database management and scientific computations like servers; or for computer-aided design, graphics, and multimedia like workstations; the existing 32-bit processors, widely used in today's desktops, could possibly hit their technological limit.

One issue likely to push this boundary is that of memory addressing. With a 32-bit processor, one can only address or recognize a maximum of four gigabytes (GB) of memory. While this amount may seem more than enough, it might not be for some applications.

With a 64-bit processor, one has the ability to address up to 18 billion GBs in memory -- more than enough for any kind of application today.

Another shortcoming of 32-bit processors, compared with 64-bit processors, is in their computation capability. Sixty-four-bit processors can obviously compute twice as much data at a time than their 32-bit counterparts. That is why 64-bit processors running at a lower clock speed, say 2 gigahertz (GHz), could still better 32-bit processors running at a clock speed of 2.4 GHz.

But shifting from 32-bit processors to 64-bit ones is no trivial matter. Even upgrading from one type of a 32-bit processor to another often requires changing the computer's motherboard (which is, in effect, pretty much the same as buying a whole new computer).

Software also becomes an issue, as software that was compiled or built for 32-bit processors cannot be run on 64-bit ones.

Fortunately, AMD and Apple-IBM have anticipated and resolved this issue by designing their processors to be compatible with 32-bit software -- another feat distinguishing them from previous 64-bit processors.

Therefore, users of these new processors can still use their computers as usual, while waiting for software developers to release 64-bit versions of their software.

Currently, SuSE Linux, Microsoft, and Sun Microsystems are among the first to have developed operating systems supporting the Athlon 64 processors, while Apple -- which makes its own software -- has made sure that their MacOS X operating system will run seamlessly with their new PowerMacs.

Technological issues aside, economic considerations now arise. Those getting ready to jump on the 64-bit wagon should first check the price tags of the new processors and compare them with their needs.

The Athlon 64 3200+, for example, is currently priced at US$417, while the higher-end Athlon 64 FX-51 -- designed for gaming and multimedia -- is priced at a whopping US$733. The price of the new Apple Power Mac G5s, is currently between US$2,000 and US$3,000.

Availability is also an issue. For Indonesia, though the Apple PowerMac G5 is already being offered at the higher-end computer center in Ratu Plaza, South Jakarta; the Athlon 64 is yet to be available at either Ratu Plaza, or Jakarta's other main computer centers at Mangga Dua, Central Jakarta and Glodok, West Jakarta. Most vendors in these centers are still selling Intel's Pentium 4 or AMD's Athlon 64 (AMD's last line of 32-bit processors prior to the Athlon 64).

According to Bong Pandi, a marketing staff member of Intraco Technology, AMD's main distributor for Indonesia, desktop users in Indonesia are unlikely to see Athlon 64s until next year.

"I'm sure the Athlon 64 will be available in Indonesia too, but perhaps next year. In the meantime, we'll still be concentrating on the Athlon XP," he said.

Pandi also mused that most customers do not really care or understand about computer specifications -- as long as it works and is the vogue. Only computer experts take notice of such technical details as processors.

"Therefore, we cannot release a new product just like that before the market is ready for it, and before the hardware and software support, particularly the motherboards and the operating systems, are available," he said.

All in all, though there are still so many issues concerning its future, 64-bit desktop computing is without a doubt already here in one sense. As an end-user, the best thing to do is probably just wait and see where this latest progress in computer technology eventually leads to -- and wisely adopt it as needed.

Wisely and "as needed", because being tech-savvy, does not mean being trend-crazy.