AMD's Sledgehammer makes easier path to 64-bit

At the microprocessor forum in California this week, AMD unveiled details of its eighth generation processor, which the company said will provide users with an easier path to 64-bit computing than arch rival Intel's Itanium family of processors.

The company's Sledgehammer processor includes x86 64-bit architecture and a new system bus - Lightning Data Transport - which it says is compatible with existing x86 32-bit software applications and operating systems, unlike Intel's 64-bit processors, which use a completely new architecture.

Richard Baker, AMD's regional marketing manager, commented: "Users don't have to rewrite all modules as with Intel's Merced. Sledgehammer allows you to use existing software and expertise. It's a seamless migration to 64-bit," he said.

AMD has extended x86 to include 64-bit mode that has both a 64-bit address space and a 64-bit data space. Future 64-bit processors will be able to detect which mode is needed and compute accordingly.

Lightening Data Transport (LDT) was unveiled at the forum, AMD's future system bus that provides a data link internal to the PC, providing up to a 20 times increase in bandwidth for Input/Output (I/O), co-processing and multi-processing functions. As well as being implemented in Sledgehammer, the increased I/O performance and bandwidth will improve overall system performance for the company's Athlon processor based workstations, servers and personal computers.

Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst at US based research firm Insight 64, commented: "It seems truly ironic that Intel, inventor of x86 architecture, has bet its 64-bit future on a radical new design, while the upstart AMD proposes a more conservative and compatible path."

He continued: "If AMD's approach pans out, customers will benefit from a wider array of choices for their high end systems. Perhaps when architects in 2025 begin to debate the move to 128-bit computing they won't be so quick to reject extensions to the x86-64 features AMD laid out today."

See also:

AMD ready to ship 800MHz Athlons ahead of schedule

AMD has cranked up the pressure on Intel by promising early Athlons amid reports that Intel's 700MHz and 733MHz coppermine Pentium IIIs are unavailable.  18 Nov 1999

How Intel and AMD are carving up the PC market

The microprocessor wars have morphed into a three-horse race with Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) charging ahead and Motorola stumbling at the hurdles.  12 Nov 1999

AMD's Athlon first processor to threaten Intel's dominance

Advanced Micro Devices' (AMD) Athlon chip has the most advanced micro processor architecture in the x86 world and is the first product that may really pose a threat to Intel's offerings.  05 Nov 1999

ICE: Intel showcases Itanium IA-64 processor

Intel gave the first demonstration of its forthcoming IA-64 processor, now named Itanium, to attendees at Internet Commerce Expo (ICE) in San Francisco this week.  21 Oct 1999

K6-III PCs

Cheaper and with comparable performance, AMD's latest chip is giving the Pentium III a run for its money. We test seven K6-III systems.  27 Sep 1999

Intel jitters as Athlon thrashes Plll

  27 Sep 1999

AMD's Athlon plans hot up

  20 Jul 1999

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