Good news for dual core technology

[Carfax]

The new technology of NEC is a compiler that can be implemented on a field programmable logic array (FPGA) and that handles parallelization better than software compilers designed for the same type of work. NEC claims that an application that was tailored for execution on a 4 processor machine manually for 4 months runs only 95% faster compared to the same application without optimizations on a computer with 1 processor, whereas the same application parallelized automatically in less than 3 minutes gives 183% performance gain over single-processor machine

Source (http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20051220214003.html)

I say bring it on :cool: With the emergence of multi-core tech, performance in games will no longer be limited by the CPU. Now all they need is to start making native 64-bit games, and it's all gravy :banana:

[ahmad]

Already posted :)

And the first 64bit game is already available: HL2/CSS ;)

[Carfax]

Already posted :)

And the first 64bit game is already available: HL2/CSS ;)

Damn, it must be on the second page already then, because I don't see the post on the first page, which is why I posted :confused:

Is HL2/CSS native 64-bit though? As the games were developed for the 32-bit platform first, I'm willing to bet that it's just a straight port to 64-bit with minor to mid level optimization.

[ahmad]

Well the 64bit version of CSS only works if you have windows XP 64bit installed. If you have regular XP it just runs the 32bit version.

[Carfax]

Well the 64bit version of CSS only works if you have windows XP 64bit installed. If you have regular XP it just runs the 32bit version.

I think I used the wrong terminology. I meant to ask whether HL2/CSS were re-built from the ground up to use AMD64, rather than just a straight port.

I've seen different results so far. SOme users are reporting massive gains, whilst others are reporting losses :confused:

[QuikSilver]

FarCry has had a 64bit version for a while now...

[Piotrsama]

Unreal Tournament 2004, too.
http://amd64downloads.filecloud.com/ut2004.asp

[onewingedangel]

64 bit support would only be helpful in a limited number of circumstances. Games are not yet requiring more than 4gigs of memory, and the increased precision of 64 bit instructions would be wasted on games where precision isn't wanted - merely something close enough as fast as possible. The only way I could se 64 bit support helping is for the tasks that require multiple passes in 32 bit mode but could be done in a single pass in 64 bit mode (very few cases at present i believe), or if they could process two 32 bit instuctions as a single 64 bit instruction

[thinkingbear]

or if they could process two 32 bit instuctions as a single 64 bit instruction
Now that would be cool.

[Xenogias]

Now that would be cool.

if not impossible

[softpain]

That extra speed will let programmers add remarkable detail to their software, says Tim Sweeney.

"You'll see better textures, more realistic sounds, and larger and more realistic environments," Sweeney adds.

Plus, the characters themselves will be rendered with dramatically more detail. You'll see more realistic representation of features such as hair, skin, and eyes. And the computer-run characters will have more realistic artificial intelligence, he says.

The key to 64-bit computing is that it will open up possibilities for creative programmers in ways never before seen.


BTW UT 2007 is 64 bits and 32 bits;the tools are for the first time 64 bits....So the game editor will be 64 bits to ;)

[RaZz!]

Unreal Tournament 2004, too.
http://amd64downloads.filecloud.com/ut2004.asp

thx for the link!

so does one need winxp 64bit to be able to use those 64bit extensions?

[RAMMAN]

does one need 64bit windows in order to play Unreal Tournament 2007?

[biohead]

No. The game will support both 32/64-bit.