Intel 64bit only architecture

[fearless]

Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-ponders-transition-to-64-bit-only-x86s-architecture

Whitepaper: https://cdrdv2.intel.com/v1/dl/getContent/776648

Blog post: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/technical/envisioning-future-simplified-architecture.html

[jj2007]

I could live without the 16-bit instructions, of course. Interestingly enough, they are not verbose about 32-bit support. Looking at my Win7-64 task manager's process list, it's pretty obvious that they would run into problems if they dropped support for 32-bit applications...

[zedd151]

I don't see that (64 bit only) coming any time soon. Probably will happen eventually though.
I believe that the usefulness of 32 bit architecture will outlast us old fogeys. 


The next generation of computing will be something altogether different... quantum computing. 😁 Free from all of the pitfalls and issues of today's hardware based systems. ... That said, how would one go about programming in the quantum age?    

[C3]

Hello,

Did you miss that Windows 11 is only for 64bit, as it begun with Window XP 64bit Edition. To run 32bit software it is more like a emulation what it does. I do like MASM32, but I'm rather doing MASM64.

[InfiniteLoop]

The legacy bloat should have been cut 20 years ago.

They should move to 16kb pages too.

[jj2007]

To run 32bit software it is more like a emulation what it does

Oh, really?

[zedd151]

... Did you miss that Windows 11 is only for 64bit ...

I did not miss that point. Also me: I do not miss Windows 11 one bit either, nor Windows 10 for that matter. Yuck! 
If it weren't for too many driver issues (or unavailability of same) I'd still be on Windows xp. 

[C3]

To run 32bit software it is more like a emulation what it does

Oh, really?

"On 64-bit Windows, 32-bit programs run in an emulation layer, and if you don’t like that, then don’t use the emulator"
By: Raymond Chen

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20081222-00/?p=19763

[jj2007]

Mostly correct, except the "virtualizing the CPU" part. If it really was an emulation, 32-bit programs would run ten times slower than 64-bit programs. Check The Laboratory: they often run faster than their 64-bit counterparts.

You will often see that "WOW64 is the x86 emulator". Bulls*t. Wow64 gives access to 64-bit OS functions, but the code runs in native 32-bit mode. At cpu level, it's not an emulation.

[TimoVJL]

WOW64 Implementation Details
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WoW64

[daydreamer]

first time I read Wow64 I thought of World of Warcraft 64 bit version

Mostly correct, except the "virtualizing the CPU" part. If it really was an emulation, 32-bit programs would run ten times slower than 64-bit programs. Check The Laboratory: they often run faster than their 64-bit counterparts.

with 20+years experience in 32bit coding/optimizing and few years 64bit coding,will it stay that way?
I think if we develop x64 optimizing skill it might change how much faster 32bit vs 64bit ?
if you run something in 32bit it is limited to 3.8gb brings it to a halt or pause to load/save data,while x64 with 64gb keeps running alot longer,well best advantage is utilize 32 cores SIMT that each need much memory,3.8gb/32 =100+mb "duckponds" 

the first tomhardware link meantions new produced 386's,but thats too little instruction set for most 32bit games
 

[jj2007]

Worth reading: Does a 32-bit application run faster on the 64-bit operating system?

[HSE]

Worth reading: Does a 32-bit application run faster on the 64-bit operating system?

Blah, blah, blah 

[daydreamer]

Isnt one thing less bits = can fit more unrolls in cacheline?
If you can run 16bit native: can fit even more in cache because 2 byte sized adresses ?

[greenozon]

any ETA predictions for 128 bit CPUs?..