On October 22nd, 2009 when Windows 7 is available for purchase from computer retailers around the world, you can look forward to dozens of improvements and new features. The one I am most looking forward to is the fulfillment of a long-ago stated goal; a vision of easy choices, of seamless migration, of natural evolution.

In 2003, the future of x86 and its future compatibility with today’s applications was at risk. The x86 ISA had a built-in limit of 4GB of addressable DRAM and manipulated data in 32-bit increments. Without an evolutionary path, x86 would become a bottleneck in future applications that demanded more memory and the ability to manipulate more complex data. It was with that knowledge that AMD designed the now industry-standard 64-bit, AMD64 instruction set which gave x86 a new life for the day when 32-bit computing wouldn’t be enough.

The future has come. We live in an era where a movie can occupy over 10GB of storage, many games perform better when you have more than 2GB of DRAM, and PCs perform medical research on their break time using four cores and 8GB of DRAM at high utilization. Today systems with 4GB and more memory are common, ready to tackle rich media, heavy multi-tasking, and amazing games.

Now is the era for which AMD designed AMD64, a path forward for a multi-core future which retained compatibility with 32-bit applications and operating systems while defining a new evolutionary path for a 64-bit future.

So here it is. The two for one deal that makes buying Windows 7 an easy choice. Microsoft Windows 7 from Home Premium through Ultimate ship with both the 64-Bit and legacy 32-bit versions in the box.

It’s like two operating systems for the price of one, allowing you to choose when you are ready for a 64-bit operating system with included 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 versions. The 64-bit version helps you break the 4GB DRAM barrier, and includes a native 64-bit Kernel that embraces the capabilities and native instruction set of today’s microprocessors. Windows 7’s 64-bit version warps you into the future, one that AMD has been preparing for since the beginning of the Millennium and began on April 22nd, 2003:

Major operating systems such as Windows and Linux are expected to migrate to the AMD64 platform from their x86 legacy…

The AMD64 platform benefits customers by providing investment protection while removing barriers to the next level of computing. AMD64 processors provide full application performance with native execution of 32- and 64-bit code. Customers can employ AMD64 processors in an entirely 32-bit environment, in a mixed environment such as a 64-bit operating system and a mix of 32- and 64-bit applications, or in homogeneous 64-bit environments. With the AMD64 platform, users can enjoy the technical superiority of 64-bit computing without sacrificing legacy x86 application compatibility or performance…

Applications that do not immediately benefit from a port to 64-bits do not need to be ported, and will run at full performance in AMD64 processor-driven environments. A large number of applications and usage scenarios, however, are likely to benefit from an AMD64 processor-driven environment over a legacy x86 environment.

The kind of applications most likely to benefit may include those that:

• Need large memory addressing and push total system memory requirements above 4GB, such as those with large datasets (financial and scientific modeling applications), and host-based desktop applications (to run multiple instances simultaneously without reducing performance);

• Must manage a large number of concurrent users or application threads, such as large scale thin-client solutions, large databases, and data warehouse applications for solutions in customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and digital rights management (DRM) systems;

• Require real-time encryption and decryption for enhanced security, including e commerce and protection of private or classified data;

• Require mathematical precision and floating-point performance including modeling, simulation, statistics and financial analysis, imaging/video/signal processing, physics, medical research, telecommunications, encryption, and compression;

• Require large, high-power database performance including decision support, searching and indexing, document and content management, and voice recognition;

• Require the x86 compatibility or the economies of scale of x86, but the large memory addressing capabilities of 64-bit computing, including many high performance computing (HPC) cluster applications;

• Provide digital content creation capabilities such as computer aided design, manufacturing and engineering (CAD, CAM, and CAE), digital music production and video editing, and real-time media streaming solutions;

• Require maximum performance for realistic and cinematic consumer experiences including computer games, digital video, and real-time collaboration; and

• Migrate capabilities previously available on 64-bit workstations to the business, consumer, and hobbyist desktop, including 3D modeling, rendering, animation, simulation, and software development…

AMD will continue to provide customers with technology that is useful today and deliver cumulative benefits in the future. By protecting customer investments, simplifying platform migration, and removing barriers to future innovation, AMD64 processor technology clears a path for the future of computing..

From “The AMD64 Computing Platform – Your Link the Future of Computing” Published April 22, 2003. Christian Zdebel & Simon Solotko.

Just as I believed that AMD64 would prepare us for challenges many years into the future, I believe that open, parallel computing, innovations in display technology, and evolutionary computing environments are among today’s links to the future. For now, I plan on enjoying 64-Bit, computing on Windows 7, made possible by AMD64 technology.

Simon Solotko is a Senior Advanced Marketing Manager at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.

This is the first in a three part series. Read on. –>>