[OT] End-user uses for x86-64 (was: Why are still not at 64 bits)

[Thomas Charron]

On 2/17/07, Jon 'maddog' Hall <maddog at li.org> wrote:
> On Sat, 2007-02-17 at 21:08 -0500, Thomas Charron wrote:
> > On 2/17/07, Jerry Feldman <gaf at blu.org> wrote:
> > > On Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:01:19 -0500
> > > "Jon 'maddog' Hall" <maddog at li.org> wrote:
> >   People may giggle, but the PS2 Emotion processing chip is 128 bit.
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion_Engine
> Yes, but read it again.  It does not say anything about the address
> space being 128 bits.  Just the registers, datapaths, etc.
> I can understand having a 128 bit data register, to manipulate those
> IPv6 addresses.  I can understand having a 128 bit datapath.  But 128
> bit memory address.....

Correct.  If we're JUST talking 128 bit memory addresses, then chances
are, it only does so to optimize the datapaths, but not in a raw 128
bit pointer.

But 128 bit / 64 bit is more then just addressable memory.

I guess that's what one of my initial points was meant to be.  If
anything, a pointer being an int and an int being able to be used to
'address more' is a fringe benefit.

-- 
-- Thomas