Comments on: Bam! MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo Arrives! http://www.whatwethink.com/2006/10/24/bam-macbook-pro-core-2-duo-arrives/ Everything You Ever Wanted Us To Tell You About Darn Near Anything Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:00:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: bukweet http://www.whatwethink.com/2006/10/24/bam-macbook-pro-core-2-duo-arrives/comment-page-1/#comment-20 bukweet Wed, 25 Oct 2006 21:37:32 +0000 http://www.whatwethink.com/?p=22#comment-20 You *may* see a benefit, or you may not. A disadvantage of 64-bit architectures is that, relative to 32-bit architectures, the same data occupies slightly more space in memory (due to swollen pointers and possibly other types and alignment padding). This increases the memory requirements of a given process and can have implications for efficient processor cache utilization. But, at the present, all of this may be academic. As mentioned, pumping up the ram in a laptop is currently very costly. Also, most commercial software is currently built as 32-bit code, not 64-bit code. These factors will undoubtedly change in the future, but for the present, beware the "64-bit hype" reality distortion field. You *may* see a benefit, or you may not.
A disadvantage of 64-bit architectures is that, relative to 32-bit architectures, the same data occupies slightly more space in memory (due to swollen pointers and possibly other types and alignment padding). This increases the memory requirements of a given process and can have implications for efficient processor cache utilization.

But, at the present, all of this may be academic. As mentioned, pumping up the ram in a laptop is currently very costly. Also, most commercial software is currently built as 32-bit code, not 64-bit code. These factors will undoubtedly change in the future, but for the present, beware the “64-bit hype” reality distortion field.

]]> By: Nick http://www.whatwethink.com/2006/10/24/bam-macbook-pro-core-2-duo-arrives/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Nick Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:01:32 +0000 http://www.whatwethink.com/?p=22#comment-18 x86-64 code is generally faster than x86-32 code because more registers become available when running in 64 bit mode. The memory controller on the MBP motherboard only allows 3GB of ram max, but it would be extremely pricey to put more than 4GB in a laptop right now anyway. Because of the register issue, though, you'll still see benefit from using a 64-bit CPU even with only 2 GB of ram. x86-64 code is generally faster than x86-32 code because more registers become available when running in 64 bit mode. The memory controller on the MBP motherboard only allows 3GB of ram max, but it would be extremely pricey to put more than 4GB in a laptop right now anyway. Because of the register issue, though, you’ll still see benefit from using a 64-bit CPU even with only 2 GB of ram.

]]> By: bukweet http://www.whatwethink.com/2006/10/24/bam-macbook-pro-core-2-duo-arrives/comment-page-1/#comment-17 bukweet Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:05:02 +0000 http://www.whatwethink.com/?p=22#comment-17 While the Duo 2 is a 64-bit cpu, its supporting chipset (Napa) is 32-bit, therefore the Duo 2 runs as a 32-bit cpu. The Duo 2 won't open up to 64-bits until April 2007 with the release of the Santa Rosa chipset. But ummm is correct: apps will have to be re-written to take advantage of the 64-bit capability. While 64-bit architectures indisputably make working with huge data sets in applications such as digital video, scientific computing, and large databases easier, there has been considerable debate as to whether they or their 32-bit compatibility modes will be faster than comparably-priced 32-bit systems for other tasks. Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64_bit#32_vs_64_bit While the Duo 2 is a 64-bit cpu, its supporting chipset (Napa) is 32-bit, therefore the Duo 2 runs as a 32-bit cpu. The Duo 2 won’t open up to 64-bits until April 2007 with the release of the Santa Rosa chipset.

But ummm is correct: apps will have to be re-written to take advantage of the 64-bit capability.

While 64-bit architectures indisputably make working with huge data sets in applications such as digital video, scientific computing, and large databases easier, there has been considerable debate as to whether they or their 32-bit compatibility modes will be faster than comparably-priced 32-bit systems for other tasks.

Check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64_bit#32_vs_64_bit

]]> By: ummm http://www.whatwethink.com/2006/10/24/bam-macbook-pro-core-2-duo-arrives/comment-page-1/#comment-16 ummm Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:19:48 +0000 http://www.whatwethink.com/?p=22#comment-16 It's already 64 bit compatible(with OSX). You're not talking Windows or AMD. Besides...how many apps take advantage of it yet? It’s already 64 bit compatible(with OSX). You’re not talking Windows or AMD. Besides…how many apps take advantage of it yet?

]]> By: speed seeker http://www.whatwethink.com/2006/10/24/bam-macbook-pro-core-2-duo-arrives/comment-page-1/#comment-15 speed seeker Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:11:06 +0000 http://www.whatwethink.com/?p=22#comment-15 WHY has no one noticed that this is not a 64 bit upgrade? Useless in the next operating system upgrade 10.5. Bacically obsolete out off the box!!! WHY has no one noticed that this is not a 64 bit upgrade? Useless in the next operating system upgrade 10.5. Bacically obsolete out off the box!!!

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