It's actually an ingenious way of breathing life into a processor architecture that's near the end of it's life, x86 is almost done for. As far as I understand, the quad core is set up as two, dual core processors. It allows for computer speeds to increase without drastically changing the actual speed of the processors themselves (although, at that point you can probably start cooking food in your computer cause of the heat generated).

64-bit processors have been available to the end user for about two years now, but with little software available other than I believe linux. Recently Microsoft released XP64 and that's beginning to pick of speed. Right now in terms of processors, AMD is only producing 64-bit processors (actually 32/64-bit hybrids that work with either one), they've stopped producing the 32-bit Athlon XP. Intel is still running with the 32-bit P4. Intel actually introduced their 64-bit Xeon processors before AMD, but it really meant squat because it's a server processor. So in that respect AMD has one up on Intel because they're allowing the end user to buy a computer that is "64-bit ready" that'll last a little bit longer when 64-bit programs become more mainstream. (Some would argue that this is stupid because by then the computer will be outdated anyway) That's one of the main reason's I'm running with an AMD64, if it means me buying one less computer to keep up I'm happy.

64-bit is becomming much more common these days mainly because of the gaming industry. When buying computers, gamers usually buy an AMD64 processor over a P4 processor because they're known to give more performance when compared to it's compeditor (ie AMD64 3500+ vs P4EE 3.5Ghz) even if the margin is less than 5%. However, gamers don't make the entire world go round: most companies are quite content with using 32-bit systems until they're forced to make a change (which won't happen for a long time) and ironically enough, tech companies such as Fujitsu where my dad works, often use badly outdated computers and will continue to do so until they're forced to upgrade.

As for software, there is very little out their that is currently written to work only in a 64-bit environment, mainly due to the lack of an OS to run it all. Now with Win XP64, more complete programs can be released to run truely within that environment. So effectively 64-bit won't truely become mainstream until software is designed for 64-bit Windows. (and as a light poke at the linux people, linux won't make the 64-bit world go round)

All new software being produced these days is designed to be run on a 64. If intel didn't control most of the market, they would already be common place. My Athlon 3300 which I just bought is running at 64. Athlon's been releasing them for almost a year now. So taylor, your beef should be with the monopolistic powers in control of the market, intel, for slowing down your belief in the ever growing rate of increase in processor speed.

Obviously, making multi-core processors is by no means the most efficient way to do it, but I think it's good that they're at least trying something new in the interim while they develop new technologies to increase single-core capabilities.

Plus... I wonder how things will change when 64-bit structures become commonplace?

CPU speeds haven't been increasing that much these days cause the new single core processors have problems dealing with the heat they generate. The newer processors are more compact and with the higher clock rates generate much more heat. For example, Intel was going to replace the cores P4 Extreme Edition with the next generation version, but it ran much hotter than the predecessor at a lower clock speed. That being said, I don't think we'll reach 6Ghz for a while (unless you count the clock speed of each core multiplied by the number of cores)

"The cd will be released on August 9th but we will have copies for our tour kickoff on July 27th at Latitude 53 with All Purpose Voltage Heroes, Hundred Acre Wood and to the teeth/to the hilt."

Click to hear new tracks here and here.

The Union is pleased to present
the Alberta debut of Matador recording artists
PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES
with guests Most Serene Republic, Shawn Hewitt and Fractal Pattern

CALGARY: August 12 at the Warehouse, doors 8 PM
Tickets on sale Wednesday July 6 at Ticketmaster, Megatunes and Sloth

EDMONTON: August 13 at the Starlite Room, doors 8 PM
Tickets on sale Wednesday July 6 at Ticketmaster, Megatunes, Blackbyrd, FS (WEM) and Listen

These shows are 18+ (sorry no minors)

black.dot.pre.sents.

The Wolfnote
All Purpose Voltage Heroes
To.The.Teeth.To.The.Hilt
Hundred Acre Wood


ALL RELEASING NEW ALBUMS! HOT DAMN!

Wednesday July 27th
Latitude 53 Contemporary Art Gallery
10248-106 st (beside A&B Sound)
All Ages/Licensed (ID Required)
Doors at 6:57

this is a LIMITED CAPACITY SHOW...advance tix will be ready this weekend and available at Blackbyrd & Listen. Get a ticket early to avoid disappointment.

crunk just keeps getting destroyed - check out that screwed and chopped shit
especially if you've already heard Mike Jones ten brazillion times on Bounce. but seriously, his R&B ballad "SCANDALOUS HOES" is friggin' incredible. i could listen to that allllllllllll day.

also, just looking back at my predictions for Summer Anthems (April 21, 2005) why has it taken this freakin' long for that Kanye video to come out, and has that Missy even dropped yet? shit. kids need to get tha fuck up

them's the Brakes. Tony check out this offshoot of British Sea Power:

brakes

ted leo ain't got shit on Kidz Bop: from Horkulated and Stereogum -the joycore of " Since U Been Gone "