Category Archives: Other

If your computer is a workstation, then Cinebench is a great reference benchmark. The faster your CPU can render the image, the higher the score. The 64-Bit version of the program was used under the 64-Bit OS’, and made a very noticeable difference. Between Vista and x64 though, the performance difference is rather minute.

Super Pi calculates a specified about of digits past the decimal place. In our case, I ran the 8 Million test, which turned out to be in x64′s favor. Overall, x64 shaved 12 seconds off what the 64-Bit version of Vista could do. For minor multi-media benchmarking, I used Nero Recode to recompress a DVD video. I first extracted the video, in this case “Bad Religion – Live At The Palladium”, and used Recode to compress it so that it could be burned to a standard 4.5GB DVD.

The results are odd here. There was a huge hike in 64-Bit Vista with 2GB, but that didn’t happen with 4GB installed. In the end, x64 proved to compress the video more than 2 minutes faster than Vista.

Techgage – Review: Windows Vista Beta 2 Performance Reports

Absoft Corp. announced it is shipping its Fortran compiler for 64-bit Windows XP and Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003.

Version 10 of the Absoft Fortran Compiler implements the complete Fortran 95 standard and is based on the same release that the Rochester Hills, Michigan-based company shipped earlier for Linux, the company said in a statement.

The new compiler supports 64-bit memory addressing available in workstation and server CPUs such Intel’s Xeon and AMD’s Opteron processors.

Absoft said that code generated by the compiler is fully source-compatible with Absoft 32-bit Pro Fortran version 9.0 for Windows and is designed to help migrate existing 32-bit applications to 64-bit Windows to take advantage of the extended 64-bit memory capabilities and performance.

The compiler is also source-compatible with Absoft Fortran compilers for Linux and Mac OS, supporting applications for all of those platforms from a single code base. Additionally, Absoft Fortran compilers are fully compatible with Microsoft’s .NET Framework, the company said.

Redmond | News: Updated Fortran for 64-bit Windows Bows

A Viiv compliant computer is generally comprised of a dual core, 64-bit Intel processor running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition. The motherboard chipset must also support 7.1 channel surround sound. Like Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition, the idea behind Viiv is to provide for a better, more refined user experience when watching movies and TV on a PC, as well as listening to music, gaming, viewing photos, and the capability to access on-demand entertainment services that deliver content straight to your PC. Viiv compliance requires a specific set of hardware dictated by Intel Corp. Current supported processors include Intel Pentium D, Intel Core Duo, and Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition. Current chipsets required to achieve the Viiv experience include Intel Express 975X, 955X, 945G, 945P, 945GT, and Mobile 945GM. LAN connections include Intel Pro/1000M, Intel Pro/ 100VE, and Intel Pro/100 VM.

Viiv Spec’d Alienware Area 51 3550
So, is Viiv what it is touted to be? Or is it just another computer? To experience the Viiv effect, I took a look at one of the latest offerings from Alienware that is Viiv-compliant, the Alienware Area-51 3550 Media Center Edition. The system ships with a 2.8GHz Intel Pentium D processor 920 with dual core technology running on an 800MHz frontside bus, 1GB 533MHz dual channel DDR2 SDRAM, a 3Gb/s 250GB SATA 7200 rpm hard drive with 8MB cache and native command queuing. Graphics is provided by an NVIDIA PCI Express x16 GeForce 6600LE with 128MB RAM.

Alienware Area 51 3550 Media Center Viiv system

Here is a part of Windows Vista x64 review with link to full story. Vista was installed on 64-bit laptop and 64-bit desktop PC.

I have been running Windows Vista for the last couple of months now on my main work laptop (64-bit AMD Turion, 2Gb ram, ATI Radeon Xpress 200M graphics), which I am typing this up on now, and it’s been running on my Dual Opteron workstation (Dual 2Gz Opteron, 2Gb ram, NVidia 6600 Graphics) at home since I got it and 3 months ago. Since then I have had some minor issues with different builds, but the system works without flaw 99% of the time, if not more. There are some driver issues (namely lack of a sound driver and card reader for my laptop, and I think the issues with the noise from the Opterons may be caused by an older system driver), but this is to be expected for beta software. I haven’t had my system Crash fully in a while now with it running. I have had one or 2 graphics driver crashes, but this did not cause an issue because the graphics driver was unloaded and reloaded and the system stayed up, and everything where I left it.

There is not a lot about x64 (64-bit) I can tell you that you probably don’t already know, but the thing that interests me most about it is the fact that Vista is fully supportive of x64 (64-bit). With Windows XP, x64 did not ship at RTM time, and it was a different kernel to XP. XP was version 5.0 of the kernel, but X64 XP was 5.1, the same kernel as windows 2003 server. This is not a bad thing, as Servers are generally more stable then client machines, but it caused some issues. Also drivers where a problem. Now I know I just said I had driver issues, but if all goes to plan, these will go away. At the moment there are a lot of machines selling with x64 (or EMT64) processors, but a lot of these ship with Windows XP 32 bit edition. I hope that the release of vista will solve this problem and give us some proper support for X64 as a platform.

Tiernans Comms Closet : Windows Vista Review: Part 1: Stability, performance, x64

Synopsys, Inc. announced the availability of a new Sentaurus TCAD release that adds significant process and device modeling capabilities for accelerated development of advanced technologies, as well as full support for 64-bit Dual-Core Intel Xeon CPUs. With continued device migration to smaller process geometries and new technology nodes, TCAD tools are essential for developing and optimizing semiconductor processes and devices, thereby significantly reducing technology development time and cost.

Increased computing power makes it less expensive for semiconductor manufacturers to perform large-scale TCAD simulations as diverse as deep-submicron 3D effects, CMOS image sensors, nonvolatile memories, radiation single-event effects and ESD protection devices, thereby helping reduce experimental costs significantly. The 64-bit Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors offer the performance and throughput required to run large-scale TCAD simulations efficiently. Customers involved in the technical development in manufacturing can also take advantage of parallel computing benefits of dual-core Intel Xeon processor-based platforms with the Sentaurus Parallel option to reduce simulation time.

Synopsys Delivers New Release of Sentaurus TCAD Tool Suite on Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processors

Intel is ready to attain leadership in performance and energy efficiency over rival Advanced Micro Devices during the coming months, with processors that continue to be built differently than those of other companies, according to an official with the chip-making giant.

Speaking at a conference June 13 in New York hosted by analyst firm Bear Stearns Security, Dileep Bhandarkar, architect at large for Intel, in Santa Clara, said that when Intel’s quad-core “Clovertown” is released in the first half of 2007, it will be a single package of two dual-core chips, and that the chips will not have the memory controller integrated into the chip.

Intel over the past couple of years has seen AMD make inroads into its dominant market share, mostly by beating Intel to the market with 64-bit features and dual-core capabilities on its Opteron processors.

Opteron processors also continue to be more energy-efficient than Intel’s Xeon chips, though Bhandarkar said that gap is closing with the upcoming introduction of such dual-core chips as “Woodcrest,” which will launch June 26. He said Woodcrest will give users an 80 percent performance improvement over current Xeon processors while lowering power consumption by 35 percent.

Intel Moves to Beat AMD in Quad-core Race

AMD announced today that AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon 64 processor-based systems and AMD Turion 64 mobile technology have achieved YES Certification from Novell, further validating the company’s commitment to interoperability and customer-centric innovation.

Novell YES Certification demonstrates the highest level of compatibility and interoperability with Novell products, including SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The certification assures users that systems powered by AMD processors are compatible with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and backed by support offerings from both Novell and AMD.

Chron.com | (BW) AMD Receives Novell YES Certification for AMD64 Processor-Based Systems; YES Certification Assures Compatibility With SUSE Linux

Windows Vista Beta 2 download is now available. The download is an ISO file of Windows Vista Beta 2, which is about 3.5 gigabytes (GB) for the 32-bit edition or 4.4 GB for the 64-bit edition.

There is also option to have the Windows Vista Beta 2 and RC1 DVD kits sent to your home or office. This option requires payment to cover DVD production, shipping, and handling costs.
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According to Edge Software, UGS Corp., a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, today announced Version 19 of Solid Edge(r) software, its industry-leading, 3D computer-aided design (CAD) solution.

* New 64-bit version – Solid Edge users create assemblies in excess of 100,000 parts, and the new 64-bit edition, introduced with Version 19, expedites the creation of massive assemblies and their associated drawings.

Edge Software – 3D software introduced to Australia

Hewlett-Packard has announced its latest generation Consolidated Client Infrastructure (CCI) Solution for key markets in Asia Pacific. The new blade PC based virtual computing offering will now be available in Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand. HP said it will also enhance the CCI solution offering that is currently offered in Australia and Japan.

The new HP bc1500 Blade PC – powered by the AMD Athlon 64-bit processor – is a ‘one-to-one’ blade PC-to-thin client infrastructure based on the Windows platform in a geographically distributed environment.

“HP’s CCI solution can deliver up to 50 per cent reduction in the total cost of ownership(1) over a four-year lifecycle, while also maintaining a high-quality, personalized desktop experience for end-users,” said Joergen Jakobsen, Vice President, Business PC, Personal Systems Group, HP Asia Pacific and Japan.

The industry-standard HP CCI solution consists of an access device at the user site, such as an HP Compaq Thin Client, through which the user connects to a HP blade PC using a secure log-in.

The HP bc1500 blade PC features an ultra-low power AMD Athlon 64 processor that delivers improved performance and the flexibility to easily transition from 32- to 64-bit(2) computing.

SDA Asia Magazine

Sophos has incorporated several new features in a security software package released Wednesday that allows network administrators to manage security for thousands of computers from a single console.

Sophos Endpoint Security can detect, remove and block adware and applications that may have been downloaded by users but are not permitted on a network, said John Shaw, Sophos group product manager.

The product is aimed at enterprises, as Sophos does not make a consumer product. Its customers requested adware and unwanted application removal functions wrapped in one product, Shaw said.

It also includes a client firewall that stops worms and controls unauthorized application communication, Shaw said. The firewall technology comes from Agnitum, a security company in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Endpoint Security includes Antivirus 6.0, an upgraded version of it antivirus software. Antivirus 6.0 receive regular virus signature updates for desktops, laptops and servers. Sophos says its antivirus product has technology called Genotype that protects against new threats by comparing them against known ones.

Antivirus 6.0 is compatible with 64-bit versions of Microsoft’s Windows 2000, XP and 2003 operating systems.

Sophos releases upgraded security software – Network World

HP announced today its latest thin and light laptop, the Compaq nx6325. Designed for the high–flying road warrior, this relatively small and lightweight machine weighs a manageable six pounds (starting weight; actual weight depends on which configuration you select). This business-minded laptop is also one of the first to feature AMD’s latest Turion 64 X2 mobile CPU, a 64-bit multiple processor platform designed to compete head-to-head with Intel’s Pentium Core Duo chips.

ABC News: HP’s New Notebook Features the Finest from AMD

Buying systems with 2GB of RAM and a 128MB-256MB video card isn’t a big deal. The question mark happens when you consider CPUs. Purchasing a a 32-bit CPU vs. a 64-bit CPU is the issue. 32-bit silicon is enough to run Vista, but we definitely like the 64-bit performance. Only trouble is, if you buy a 64-bit CPU today, you’re either wasting it on Windows XP 32-bit, or you’re dealing with loads of driver issues if you opt for Windows XP x64.

My advice is to buy the 64-bit CPU now, run it in 32-bit mode and then move up to a 64-bit OS with the swap to Vista.

SMB IT | InfoWorld | Vista Hardware: What to Buy Today for Tomorrow’s OS | June 5, 2006 05:16 PM | By Oliver Rist

Well, Socket AM2 isn’t going to set the world on fire with its amazing speed boost compared to Socket 939. The move to DDR2 memory is an upgrade, but a very minor one in terms of overall performance. Memory bandwidth is obviously, stupendously improved with Socket AM2, and memory latency is actually a little lower, too. Unfortunately, these changes only translate into tangible gains in a handful of our application benchmarks. Games and video encoding tests seem to make the most use of Socket AM2′s additional bandwidth, as well as our speech recognition benchmark and a few others. Many other applications show no improvement at all. Socket AM2 does bring lower power consumption at idle than Socket 939, but that advantage seems to evaporate when the CPU is busy, in spite of the lower TDP ratings for the newer CPUs.

For now, that’s good enough. Intel’s Pentium D and Extreme Edition processors simply can’t keep up with the Athlon 64 X2. The two new speed grades, the Athlon 64 X2 5000 and FX-62, only extend AMD’s performance lead, and the FX-62 dominates the current crop of desktop PC processors.

AMD’s Socket AM2 processors – The Tech Report – Page 17

Intel will offer Intel Core 2 micro-architecture for cost effective computers starting from the second quarter 2006, if a report published by an Asian web-site is to be believed. The new chips are currently called Conroe-L and offer only one processing engines, not two, as more advanced Conroe brethren.

While the branding is to be decided, according to slides published, it is highly-likely that the value chips based on the Core 2 micro-architecture will be sold under Core 2 Solo trademark. The slides, which are believed to be leaked by mainboard makers to HKEPC web-site, also imply that the code-named Conroe-L products will be substitute not only Pentium 4 processors, but also Celeron D chips. Permalink