Author: Gian-Carlo Pascutto
Date: 03:24:23 05/26/01
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On May 25, 2001 at 19:09:46, Slater Wold wrote: >Of course the 64 bit processors will be faster! Hyatt has said before, it a >bitboard application, it will double the speed. Currently, Crafty manipulates 64-bit entities via 32-bits insns. Today top CPU's can manipulate 3 32-bit insns per cycle maximum. This translates (simplified, yes) into 1.5 bitboard operations per cycle. However, an Athlon can also manipulate 2 64-bit entities and 2 32-bit per cycle instead. That would be 3 bitboard operations per cycle (doubles speed). However, this would require recoding Crafty in a mix of MMX and integer code. Not only would it make porting Crafty impossible, it will make your head hurt. I have done _one_ function so far and it now goes 1% faster. But I can tell you looking at 3 calculations interwinded in 2 different assembly languages is no fun. A full 64 bit cpu would do 3 bitboard operations maximum. This would be no faster than what we already have. But you could rely on the compiler to generate the code. Aaaah (big sound of relief) >And yes, they will run our current software, however, slower than >what a 32 bit processor will. So there would be no point in buying >a 64 bit processor, until programs are coded for 64 bit. Just a correction. For most programs they wont be faster. But they wont be slower either, provided they are just recompiled. This is trivial if you have a free OS. Guess why Intel and AMD have made sure GNU C support their 64 bit architectures :) Of course, if you are stuck on an OS and with apps you can modify, there would be little point in upgrading. Just like with the early Pentium Pros. >Even when Hyatt makes Crafty v31.9 ----// >SMP version on the 64 bitprocessors, >I still would not count on a lot of people having them. >The 800mhz Intel Intanuim processors are $3500 a piece. a) Crafty already fully supports 64 bit cpus, and has done so for a long time. It's not because Intel/AMD don't make them that they don't exist. b) Prices drop. Fast. -- GCP
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