Comment obscure 64-bit ? Int or Float ? (Score 1) 94
My aging PPC601 has the capability to process 64bit numbers - all of its FP registers are in fact 64bits long, even if the int registers are only 32bits. It is true that the powerPC chips apple is using do not deal with 64bit integers, but other varients in the PPC family DO have 64bit int registers.
So even the G1's are technically 64bit processors, let alone the G2, 3 or 4.
As a great deal of computations make use of floating point mathematics, Apple isn't incurring such a huge penalty by not writing the core of their OS in 64bit. This is demonstatable -> My 7100/66av (PPC601 @ 66MHz) can and routinely does decode and play 160bit/s MP3's in full 64bit quality without skipping any frames. I'd really like someone do manage that with a i486 @ 66 !
So even the G1's are technically 64bit processors, let alone the G2, 3 or 4.
As a great deal of computations make use of floating point mathematics, Apple isn't incurring such a huge penalty by not writing the core of their OS in 64bit. This is demonstatable -> My 7100/66av (PPC601 @ 66MHz) can and routinely does decode and play 160bit/s MP3's in full 64bit quality without skipping any frames. I'd really like someone do manage that with a i486 @ 66 !
