Intel Rollout Optimizes 64-Bit Solutions

Aiming to close the gap with rival Advanced Micro Devices in backward-compatible 64-bit systems, Intel has begun shipping to the channel a series of new tools aimed at porting Xeon-based solutions to 64-bit environments.

The Santa Clara, Calif., chip maker said last month that it was rolling out new tools that could help system builders and solution providers optimize 64-bit client solutions running on 32-bit Xeon systems.

Intel's tools follow the release earlier this year of its Intel Extended Memory 64 technology. The instruction set allows system builders and solution providers to optimize 64-bit solutions on the 32-bit hardware architecture.

The tools include compilers, the Intel Integrated Performance Primitives, Intel's VTune Performance Analyzers and the Intel Math Kernel Library. All are aimed at helping system builders integrate Intel's EM64T, its Xeon processor platform with 64-bit extensions and memory addressability.

Over the past 18 months, Intel has been bitten by its inability to compete with AMD's 64-bit platform, which provides backward compatibility between 64-bit software and 32-bit software. Neither Intel's 64-bit Itanium, nor its 32-bit Xeon, had been capable of supporting applications based on the other architecture. However, earlier this year, Intel began shipping its Xeon with that capability.Despite Intel's move to release what some believe is a competing technology to AMD's 64-bit Opteron and AMD64 technologies, many in the channel said they have not seen a groundswell toward those solutions.

"It's just too early," said Steven Osheroff, president of A-Z Computer Marketing, a Centerville, Va.-based system builder. The market may be ready to adopt that technology in about six months, he said.

AMD, Sunnyvale, Calif., has enjoyed a successful channel adoption of its Opteron and AMD64 processors, chips that run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications. Intel executives acknowledged that AMD's success played a part in their decision to begin shipping 64-bit extensions for the Xeon platform.

Intel has priced its C++ Compilers 8.1 for Windows or Linux at $399; its Intel Visual Fortran Compiler 8.1 for Windows, Professional Edition, at $1,399; and its Intel Visual Fortran Compiler 8.1 for Linux at $699, among others.

Also, the Intel VTune Performance Analyzers with support for Intel EM64T will ship later in the fourth quarter for $699, Intel said.0