On Tue, 2007-01-30 at 17:33 -0600, Jonathan Berry wrote:
On 1/30/07, David Fletcher <fc(a)fletchersweb.net> wrote:
> On Sunday 28 January 2007 22:07, Jonathan Berry wrote:
> > On 1/28/07, Mick Mearns <off_by_1(a)yahoo.com> 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