Quoting "James G. Sack (jim)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
Hey, thanks for the clarifications, MM.
np.. we've been deep in this stuff at work. We had our hands on opterons months before they were available and we haven't bought 32bit cpus ever since the opterons hit the street. 32bit is a complete waste of money in our group anymore. Even if we need 32bit compute support, it's better to have the 64bit chips that can be re-installed to 64bit later when needed. Plus they were outperforming in even 32bit installs until woodcrest anyway.
I can't find it now, but I thought I read that barcelona also provides improved virtualization support over current AMD.
You're likely thinking the Pacifica stuff. From what I understand and have gotten.. Intel started with their VT-x bits in the Core Duos (my Mac Book Pro has VT-x and it helps parallels do quite impressive virtualization). VT-x is just cpu virtualization though. Intel is going to be rolling out (over the next year I think I've read) 2 more VT bits (I forget the -letter bits) that will add virtualization for I/O subsystems and Memory. AMD's Pacifica on the other hand, will be all 3 of those out of the gate. So Intel rushed out 1/3 of the virtualization to claim 1st, while AMD took their time to do it all right away.
Plus it was likely harder to split up in AMD's cpus due to having the memory controller on the cpu too.
Intel seems in the lead for bang/watt for now, a spec which seems to be gaining importance, I believe.
Yeah, intel has a slight lead right now. I actually think in the long run, it's a good thing. Close competition between the 2 companies is good for us. Intel was so far ahead for so long that they rested on their laurels and AMD took the lead. Then AMD stagnated a bit too much (or at least didn't keep up the pace) and Intel leaped ahead again.
I'd love it if they kept leaping over each other every 12-18 months myself. As long as Intel can't use it's mass cash reserves to bully AMD out of the market.
Did I get any of this right?
I'm not sure on the process sizes, but everything else sounded right. -- Mike Marion-Unix/Linux Admin-http://www.miguelito.org Thurgood: "Well you see Walter, breaking up with a girl is like pulling off a bandaid... You got to do it quick! Sounds like you did it slow and picked up the scab afterwards!" -- The PJ's -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
