64-Bit Takes Off

64-bit desktop computing has taken a significant step toward becoming a pervasive reality:AMD's ( Advanced Micro Devices ) release of its Athlon 64 chips — and Apple 's launch of its G5 CPUs — means 64-bit processors, once reserved for servers and high-end workstations, are now in PCs available on retail shelves.

In time, 64 -bit PCs could change the face of desktop computing. A 64 -bit chip can run longer, more complex instructions than a 32 -bit one, improving performance of dataintensive tasks such as audio and video encoding, advanced engineering design apps1 ,and, naturally, games.

Equally key is a 64-bit CPU's ability to recognize and use a lot more RAM2 . Today's 32 -bit chips, such as AMD's Athlon XP and Intel's Pentium 4 , can address up to 4GB of RAM split between the OS and applications. Few PCs have that much memory, and even fewer apps use it. But with ever-more-complex software, that limitation may become a bottleneck, making Athlon 64's ability to address a whopping terabyte ( 1000GB) 3 of physical memory very attractive.

Why is AMD pushing the 64 -bit angle at all? Because company executives believe the 64 -bit desktop age is dawning now."Once video editors watch a 64-bit PC encode video directly to a DVD on the fly, they'll want one , "says Rich Heye , vice president of AMD's microprocessor unit. And once gamers see the cinematic quality that 64-bit chips help make possible , they'll want one. Though mass-market adoption will take a few years, " the average lifetime of a PC is three to four years, and I think a lot of people will be running 64 bits before that's up, "Heye says.

Executives at Intel disagree, seeing 64-bit computing as largely a server technology in the short term."With just 5 percent of servers using 64-bit addressability, there is little need today [ for 64 bits] on the desktop, "says George Alfs, Intel spokesperson, adding that with out software and other tools to make it work at its best, 64 bits doesn't mean much.

MicroDesign Resources's Krewell sees Intel's resistance to 64 bits for the desktop as a move to protect its sizeable investment in its 64-bit Itanium CPU, designed for servers and workstations.

Meanwhile, with Athlon 64 , AMD has reignited the chip wars."That's always good news for users, "says MDR's Krewell.

练习题：

Ⅰ. Choose the word which has the same or similar meaning with the underlined word:

1. AMD's release of its Athlon 64 chips

A. launch B. set free

2. more complex instructions than a 32 -bit one

A. not simple B. not clever

3. Because company executives believe

A. workers B. managers

4. to protect its sizeable investment

A. rough B. huge

5. desktop age is dawning now

A. returning B. coming

Ⅱ. Question :

Where were 64-bit CPUs used before?

答案：

Ⅰ. 1. A 2 . A 3. B 4. B 5. B

Ⅱ. servers and high-end work stations

译文：

“64 位大帝”登基

64 位的台式电脑朝着普及迈出了重要的一步: 超微的速龙64 位处理器和苹果电脑的G5 台式平台一起投放市场, 这意味着曾经专为服务器和高端的工作站保留的64 位处理器, 现在也在零售货架上可以买到, 用于装备个人电脑系统。

64 位系统能够改变桌面计算的现状, 因为64 位的芯片能运行比32 位的芯片更长、更复杂的指令, 改良执行大运算量任务时的性能, 例如音频和视频解码、高级工程设计应用程序, 当然了, 还包括电脑游戏。

同样重要的是64 位处理器具有识别和使用更多内存的能力。今天的32 位芯片, 包括英特尔的奔4 和超微的速龙X P, 能够在操作系统和应用软件之间多达4GB 的内存中寻址。拥有如此大内存的个人电脑很少, 在应用程序方面能与之配敌的就更微乎其微了。但是目前以及将来使用更复杂的软件时, 这种局限就成了瓶颈, 这使得64 位处理器能够寻址巨大的1 TB 内存的能力变得非常有吸引力。

超微到底为什么要推出64 位? 这是因为, 公司的决策者们相信, 64 位台式机的时代已 经来临了。“ 当电视图像编辑们目睹64 位电脑快速地将电视图像直接解码成DVD 格式时, 一定也想拥有一台这样的机器, ”超微处理器部门的副总经理里奇· 海伊说。另外,游戏玩家看见在64 位芯片的帮助下, 电影画质成为可能, 他们也会希望拥有一台。64 位电脑大规模地进入市场还需要几年时间, 但海伊说:“ 一台电脑的平均寿命是三到四年, 我想许多人会在那段时间里改用64 位电脑的。”

英特尔的经理不同意这个看法, 他认为64 位在短时间内仍将主要作为服务器技术。英特尔的发言人乔治· 阿尔福斯说:“ 仅仅5% 的服务器使用64 位工作能力, 今天只有极少数的台式机需要( 64 位) 。”他还补充道,“ 如果没有相应的附带软件和其他工具的话, 这种能力对于让电脑发挥最佳性能几乎没什么意义。”

微设资源的克雷维尔注意到英特尔对64 位台式电脑的抵制是为了保护其投资巨大的专为服务器和工作站设计的64 位安腾芯片。

同时, 随着速龙64 的上市, 超微显然已经重新点燃了芯片大战。微设资源的克雷维尔说:“ 对于消费者, 这永远都是好消息。”