" AMD64 is designed to enable simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing with no degradation in performance. With Direct Connect Architecture, AMD64 processors address and help eliminate the real challenges and bottlenecks of system architectures because everything is directly connected to the central processing unit." So if you owned a pc with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor and you wanted to install some`application that was only available for 32-bit processors, could you install the softwaare and would it function?
if you're running a 32-bit system, then it should. if you're running a 64-bit system(ie XP64, Vista64), then i believe that you need to use emulation to run it. i could be wrong though.
i know for a fact that Leopard(latest Mac OS X) can run 32 and 64-bit programs natively.
As far as I know, JohnDemolition is right. A processor can handle any type of program that it is designated for. So an AMD 64 bit processor, it can run 64 bit applications, such as XP Pro x64 Edition, and the 64 bit editions of Vista. If you have a 32 bit program running, it does use a form of emulation to run it. The processor might not cause it to slow down, but the OS itself might.
AJ
If you want to be problem free just use 32 bit xp/vista. If you want to try to get the most performance but possibly have compatibility problems then use the 64bit versions. It just doesn't seem worth the frustration to me.
Now I understand. It's the operating system not the processor that is relative. I posed the question because I noticed a lot of the notebooks on sale have the AMD 's and I'm thinking why would "I" want that (hypothetically, not purchasing anything)?
I run Vista x64 and have no compatability problems. WOW32 runs in kernel space for 32bit applications and no, I dont need crappy 16bit or msdos support.
The only advantage is that people can take full use of 4 GBs (or more) of RAM. Honestly, until there are a lot of 64 bit programs, there is no real need to install a 64 bit OS. However, all of the newer AMD and Intel processors I believe are 64 bit compatible.
AJ
The only advantage is that people can take full use of 4 GBs (or more) of RAM.
that and some CPU-intensive programs also run faster completely due to the larger registers.
And the most significant improvement is not limiting per application memory utlisation to only 2GB