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To: fyodor_ who wrote (69158)	1/27/2002 12:24:24 PM
From: Dan3	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 275872

Re: The main reasons for going with the more expensive windows versions, multiprocessor support and high memory support, would now be fully part of the consumer version. Clawhammer is supposed to have one core, and would be supported by Windows XP-64. Sledgehammer is supposed to have two cores, and would require Windows XP-64 Professional (like SMT enabled Prestonia P4). Dual processor Sledgehammer machines (or Prestonia P4s) would present 4 cores to the operating system, letting Bill G. charge even more for a third level of desktop Windows XP. Microsoft is salivating at the thought of these new processors hitting the market!

To: fyodor_ who wrote (69158)	1/27/2002 3:31:53 PM
From: dale_laroy	Respond to of 275872

>Why would Microsoft support the full amount of memory allowed by the 40/48 bits of address space with Hammer? Why would Microsoft support multiple processors (which is what is needed for HyperThreading to work)? [in consumer versions of their OS]< Chances are very good that Intel will not support the full amount of memory allowed by the 40/48 bits of addrss space in the consumer OS, at least not initially. Best guess is that the 64-bit consumer version of Windows XP will be analogous to Windows 3.x. Windows 3.x itself ran in 286 mode, and therefore only supported as much memory as could be accessed by a 286. This enabled Microsoft to market a single version of Windows 3.x to 286 users as well as 386/486/Pentium users. I would look for the first consumer version of Windows to support Hammer to operate similarly. I look for this version of Windows to itself run in IA32 mode, supporting an IA32 sized address space for each application. It will be able to run a mix of IA32 and x86-64 applications, with x86-64 application Windows calls thunking down to IA32 mode for servicing. Many x86-64 applications, such as 3-D rendering and animation, will be useful even with a 4GB address space limit, but really shine with the Professional version of x86-64 Windows enabling the use of larger address spaces.