64 bit folding

[wheatbix]

When the 64 bit athlons come out, do you think stanford will write a 64 bit folding program? Will it be twice as fast?

I've got some money and am going to buy a new fast rig soon, but i'm trying to decide whether it would be better to wait until the 64 bit ones come out, because they can process twice as much information (theoretically). Any advice or opinions?

 

[OCn00b]

I doubt they'll rewrite it for 64bit until it becomes the standard and that's what most people are using.

 

[Audioaficionado]

64 bit isn't twice as fast as 32 bit. It's related to processor architecture. Way too technical for me to attempt a defination. Only the mumber 64 is twice 32.

 

[scoobiedoo]

Stanford next port for the client will more than likely be a os9 port, maybe after that when the 64 bit architecture matures will they port it to 64bit.

Supply and demand baby!!!

the demand is right now for a os9 port.

scoobs

 

[AmigoThree]

Good I hope they get an OS9 port, I know myself, and so many others could borg school computers because many shools use macs, and atleast in my school, all but 1 (something in the DV room) run OS9.

 

[Sterculus]

a 64 bit port would be nice, i bet that the athlon 64s would pwn with a 64 bit folding proggy
imagine...an athlon 64 yatta

 

[pip]

Here's a simplified explanation of 64-bit versus 32-bit

this is 2+2=4 in 32-bit
00000000000000000000000000000010
00000000000000000000000000000010
=
00000000000000000000000000000100

here is that same equation in 64-bit

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010
=
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100

so basically 32 bit can make larger calculations over twice as fast, which would be good for folding but not so effective in normal programs

props to Ed for this great explanation

 

[wheatbix]

k, cool. Thanks for the advice.

 

[SickBoy]

Not like it's a big deal, either.

Hammer chips run x86-64 code standard (aka AMD64) which can run 32 bit apps in ful hardware mode (not emulation like IA64). Folding will still be pretty fast on a Hammer in 32 bit, just not as fast as it could be.

Moral of the story? If you're building a dedicated folding rig, stick to Bartons until an AMD64 port of the Folding client comes out.

 

[Mizzery]

does the extra cache help a lot with folding?

 

[cack01]

Keep in mind that the AMD PR folks said it took only a week for one person to make the 64 bit version of unreal 2003, atleast thats what I remember. So a 64 bit version is pretty likely the way I see it. The big question should be if anyone here actually wants to dish out all the money for a new type of chip.

 

[sandman001]

Some, but a 2500+ is just a great deal.