AMD said this week that some challenging computer tasks could be done up to 57 percent faster running Microsoft beta software for 64-bit machines.
The 57 percent gain over 32-bit machines was logged on AMD Athlon 64 machines operating Microsoft's Windows XP 64-bit Edition for Extended Systems, AMD said.
AMD's announcement came one day after Intel unveiled its workstation entry in the 64-bit sweepstakes. Presumably, the new Intel 32/64 Xeon processors would offer similar computing gains with the Microsoft operating system, which is still being tested.
Specifically, AMD said 64-bit versions of two software applications -- Crafty and The Panorama Factory -- have logged performance increases of up to 57 percent, compared to older 32-bit versions of the operating system. Crafty is an open-source chess program while The Panorama Factory is a digital photo rendering product.
While AMD has been delivering 32/64-bit Athlons and Opterons for several months, that market isn't expected to really roll until Microsoft delivers its 64-bit operating systems. The tests released Tuesday [US] provide early indications of the performance boost users can expect when the 64-bit market gets wheeling, said Nathan Brookwood, principal analysts of Insight 64
The Crafty program, which has won many chess competitions including the Internet Computer Chess Tournament, in 64-bit mode outperformed a 32-bit version by nearly 47 percent, AMD said. The Panorama Factory application created a digital photo panorama 57 percent faster in 64-bit mode than in 32-bit mode.
Brookwood said the 64-bit server market will be bigger than the workstation business. Intel is expected to address the server market squarely in a few weeks when it puts the finishing touches on its Lindenhurst chipset. Like the 64-bit workstation market, the server end of the business is expected to get a shot in the arm when Microsoft releases its 64-bit server software.
Brookwood expects the high-end server market -- machines costing more than US$25,000 --will be successfully addressed by Intel's Itanium, another 64-bit processor that has been on the market for several months.