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Introduction
It
was back in September 2003 that we last got to play
with an Athlon FX. The
2.2GHz FX-51 was
a pretty astounding processor even when compared to
the best of the previous generation of cores.
Because
this is basically just a speed-bump of the original
FX-51, increasing its core speed from 2.2GHz to 2.4GHz,
we'll just touch on the basics of AMD's 64bit technology
rather than slogging through it all in detail again.
Are
there benefits to 64-bit?
You've
no doubt heard people talk about "x86",
the instruction set that has driven the 32bit processor
industry for decades. Well, AMD took this set of instructions
and extended them to embrace a whole new world f 64bit
computing, creating what they now call "AMD64
ISA".
But
why bother? Just what is so special about 64bit computing
anyway? Well one of the major benefits comes from
the amount of memory your PC can work with. 64 bit
CPUs and operating systems will bust through the 4GB
limit imposed by 32bit technology and raise it to
a stunning 16 Terabytes! Essential for the efficient
handling of today's resource-hungry software.
We
threw a couple of quotes at you from respected names
in the industry when we looked at the FX-51, but just
to remind you again what the head honchos think about
64 bit technology here they are again.
"With
AMD64 on our development servers as well as users'
desktops, gamers will be able to literally count the
beads of sweat on the foreheads of their opponents.
64-bit computing simply means a level of realism that,
until now, has existed only in the real world."
-Tim Sweeney, founder and president of Epic Games,
maker of the popular Unreal Tornament
"Over
the past few years, Microsoft has enhanced end-user
experiences by adding technological features that
extend the life of the 32-bit system. We need to migrate
to 64-bit computing to continue adding new functionality
that will attract a new market of users to our solutions.
The 64-bit capabilities of the next generation of
PC processors will create entirely new opportunities
for users of Microsoft technology to enjoy outstanding
performance and productivity in their offices, their
homes, and on the road."
- Brian Valentine, senior vice president of the
Windows Division at Microsoft
Okay,
so maybe you're begining to like the sound of this
new-fangled 64bit computing business, but wha about
all that 32bit software you've collected over the
past how ever many years? Well this is where the Athlon64
has a distinct advantage.......
Compatability
Whether
you're an I.T.guru or a raw PC beginner, switching
something as fundamental as your base platform is
no fleeting decision. Fortunately when you move to
an Athlon64 processor you're not switching platforms,
you're extending the platform you already use. This
is because as well as opening up a whole new world
of 64 bit computing, the Athlon64 can also run all
your existing 32 bit software too, and not in some
slow-as-treacle kind of emulation mode, natively at
full speed!
If
two high performance platforms for the price of one
sounds too good to be true....itis, well for now at
least. Microsoft have yet to release their 64bit Windows
operating system as anything more than a trial beta
version and very little true 64 bit software exists.
Although this doesn't entirely nullify the benefits
of owning an Athlon64, it does postpone them a little.
KEY
ATHLON 64 FX-53 TECH SPECS:
The
FX-53 I'm looking at today employs no architectural
changes over the original 2.2GHz FX-51 we reviewed
last year. This is simply a speed-bumped model that
have had its core speed increased to 2.4GHz. Here's
a quick recap on the features:
One
area where AMD's marketing strategy has fallen a
little short is when it comes to the difference
between the Athlon64 and the AthlonFX. Most of the
people I speak to don't really understand what actually
separates one from the other.
Basically,
the "FX" is a higher performance part
offering increased cache compared to the regular
3000+ and a 128bit memory controller. Here's how
the two compare, and as you can see they're pretty
similar.
† 1024KB L2 cache: AMD Athlon™ 64
Model 3400+, 3200+; 512KB L2 cache: Model 3000+
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