Author: Dann Corbit
Date: 14:52:47 06/04/02
Go up one level in this thread
On June 04, 2002 at 16:28:39, Gian-Carlo Pascutto wrote: >On June 04, 2002 at 16:18:55, Gian-Carlo Pascutto wrote: > >>Because you are using a processor that is clocked at twice the clock >>frequency? Why compare a 1ghz processor to a (nearly) 2ghz processor >>and conclude anything about efficiency there? Is there anything that >>suggests that the alpha is simply more "efficient"? To justify that >>clock frequency disparity? >> >>A machine twice as fast (clock freq) _should_ perform just as well as >>a 64 bit machine at 1/2 the frequency... Less would suggest that the >>32 bit machine simply sucks badly. > >I don't agree with the validity of a clock-for-clock comparison, >but if you want to do it anyway, I'll again point to Vincent's >numbers: > >At the same clockspeed, Crafty only gets 33% faster on the 64-bits >machine. > >When you read this, keep in mind that most applications get _more_ >than 33% faster on the 64-bits machine. All the new 64 bit chips in the discussion are pretty much beta stage right now. A 500 MHz 21264 hit 1M NPS for Crafty when Tim Mann did it. I think to extrapolate from instances has some value, but the general idea of a 64 bit chip compared to 32 has so many advantages that surely they will clobber the 32 bit chips at some point. There will also be a point when 10 GHz 64 bit chips are a cheap commodity item. The 32 bit chips will pretty much be relegated to an embedded role by that time. So, I think that architecturally, it makes good sense to design for a 64 bit system right now. It should also operate successfully on a 32 bit system. But sometime in the not-too-distant future, the 64 bit chips are going to blow the doors off of the 32 bit chips and those who are not ready for the transition will be a large step behind. There are several reasons that 64 bit performance data is sketchy for the new chips. First, they don't want performance data out yet because it gives a good target to the opposition. If they release it before the opposition has had time to address it, by the time they do exceed the performance, the next generation will be ready anyway. Second, as beta chips, they still have opportunities for improvements and bug fixes. No need for any embarassing 'forgot to download the division table completely' bugs.
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