On Tue, 2007-01-30 at 17:33 -0600, Jonathan Berry wrote: > On 1/30/07, David Fletcher <fc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > On Sunday 28 January 2007 22:07, Jonathan Berry wrote: > > > On 1/28/07, Mick Mearns <off_by_1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > Hi list; > > > > this is off topic. > > > > > > > > I was wondering which is better a dual-core x86 cpu or an x64 cpu? > > > > Which is actually faster/better in "normal" use? > > > > How about installation problems and hardware cost? > > > > > > > > I am not planning any upgrades just yet but am curios. > > > > > > Why not get a dual-core x86_64 CPU? All the AMD dual-core chips are > > > 64-bit and Intel's Core 2 Duo is 64-bit. Personally, I like AMD > > > better. There is really no reason to get a 32-bit only CPU anymore. > > > If you don't want to run 64-bit yet, you can still run 32-bit just > > > fine. And a 64-bit installation gives you the choice to run both. > > > > > > Jonathan > > > > If the List doesn't mind me staying off topic (it's closer to topic than > > servicing a Chevy pickup gearbox I think ;-) ):- Next time I build a new > > computer I'd like to be sure that I can run a Xen kernel with full > > virtualisation. Then when I occasionally need to poke a little finger into > > the Dark Side I can do so without having to shut down and reboot, and keep > > the damned thing backed up so I don't ever need to do a fresh install again. > > > > As I Understand It, if I go for an AMD chip I need to be sure to buy one that > > incorporates technology called Pacifica. Only thing that's troubling me about > > this is, I can't find any mention of Pacifica in connection with AMD chips in > > the component shops. > > > > Also, I believe I can't do it on this P4 computer because it can only do what > > is called paravirtualisation, requiring hooks to be added to the guest OS. > > Which is probably why I could run the 98SE installation CD OK when I played > > with it but it wouldn't boot. > > > > So, List, is the little bit I think I know about virtualisation correct? > > Yeah, that sounds like what I have heard about the subject. > > > Are there chips available now that have Pacifica (such as the AMD Opterons) or > > are they not out yet? > They are out. There has not been as much talk about it for some > reason. I have been surprised at that. But you want any Socket AM2 > AMD CPU (which is the newest) or I think Socket F is the other new > socket (I think for the Opteron class CPUs ?). Socket 939 and 940 I think socket 940 IS AM2 > CPUs do not have Pacifica support (not sure what its official name is > now). On the Intel side, I think all the Core series CPUs have > whatever Intel calls its virtualization extensions. I'm not sure if
