Re: video encoding

If you've seen the DivX encoding benchmarks for DivX64 on Windows 64-bit on AMD64 processors going around the web recently, there is no competition between the A64 in 64-bit mode and the P4.

Whilst the results might be suspect (maybe the timing is wrong in the benchmark on 64-bit machines, or Cool 'n' Quiet is messing things up), the results will show around 160 - 200 fps encoding on an A64 4000+ by the end of this year, compared to 60-80fps encoding on a P4.

It seems the extra registers in 64-bit FP on the A64 really benefit the DivX algorithm.

You do realise, Graham, that Intel will have 64bit as well. (Called CT)...In which companies like DELL will accept. (They won't, more like never, accept AMD's 64bit technology).

I fear the performance issue will flip again once Intel uses its "influence" on developers to adopt Intel's 64bit implementation (CT) over AMD64.

Numbers don't interest me...Its the technology and application that gets me going...As well as the politics behind it. ie: The decision to make a compromise and implement CT into both the P4 and Xeon, and risk hurting Itanium 2 sales.

Never under-estimate Intel's ability to bounce back with their "band aid" add-ons to their CPUs. Their SSE2 implementation is a clear example of an effective band aid to AMD's Athlons. It provides the necessary counter when software is optimised for it.

Well you speak as though Intel's implementation of 64bit cpus will not be compatible with AMDs.... Wrong. Microsoft has already stated that they will develop 1 64 bit extended version of XP. Not two. It is well known that Windows 64 will support AMD cpus. So if Intel wants OS support for their 64 bit cpus they will have to use AMDs version of x86-64.

You haven't seen anything yet from AMD.

The Intel CT (or whatever) will be compatible with AMD64. Only the HT/SSE3 are currently not supported by AMD CPU's. Any 64bit optimisations for Intel IA32-64bit extended CPU's will also improve the performance on AMD64 CPU's. Intel Prescott based CPU's were designed from early on for 64bit just like HyperThreading was in the original P4 and switched off. A new stepping for Prescott based CPU's may have a few minor bugs fixed enable the 64 bit extentions to be used (and compatible with AMD64). Intel implementation is no more of a hack then AMD did. Both started with different designs and made different changes to system architecture that are unrelated to 64bit extentions.
AMD64 has extra SIMD registers and extra ALU registers, no new X87 FPU registers. Both Intel and AMD implement a larger hidden register files (ALU,FPU) that allows runtime renaming and more parallel execution.