14 DAY TRIAL // Intel has launched its 64 bit technology in order to compete against its rival AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) one.
This technology is officially called EM64T (Extended Memory 64 Technology) and will be presented along with the Pentium 4 6XX models. The processors that use this technology have an operating mode called IA32E, which divides into two operating sub modes.
The first of them is the compatibility mode, which allows operating systems to run without changes 32 and 16 bit applications. The operating system can run on 64 bits, but also on 32 or 16 bit in the compatibility mode. Though, the 32 bit programs will run like on a 32 bit CPU (Central Processing Unit). The same idea will be applied for the 16 bit programs also. The second operating mode will be the 64 bit one that will use the new technology.
Windows XP cannot take advantage of the 64 bit technology. But Microsoft launched a special edition of XP, called Windows XP professional x64 Edition, that allows the users to use up to 128 GB of RAM and 16 TB (terabytes) of virtual memory, making the applications run significantly faster. Microsoft claims that the 64 bit version of Windows XP can support up to two x64 processors, either single or multicore.
EM64T aims to the 64 bit operating systems. For those who wish to buy a Pentium 4 64 bit processor and the Windows x64 Edition we recommend to wait the arrival or more software application that can run in the 64 bit mode. But if you won't run a compatible operating system and also applications, you won't be able to enjoy all the capabilities that the EM64T platform has to offer.
On the other side of the barricade, Apple uses in its PowerMac computers, for about two years, the power of the 64 bit technology. Also, the operating system from Apple, Mac OSX, takes full advantage of the new technology.