Sony seems to be extremely tight-lipped regarding future development, so while this is an interesting topic I don't think we'll get any information.

I know that Cakewalk is developing a 64 bit version of Sonar and they are reporting the performance looks extremely promising. But of course that's an audio only application.

- Mark

Reading over the K8 specs at www.cpuid.com, it looks like the main advantage won't be a huge increase in speed (for video use anyway) but in the fact that data won't need to be in 64k chuncks anymore.

That's one of the big things AMD got rid of (I can't speak for Intel's 64-bit stuff).

there's a misconception that 64 bit improves application performance. it does not. 64 bit computing improves calculation accuracy (bit depth) and does this by increasing the mathematical register bits. Computationally, things are more demanding, however, the results are more accurate.

Ah, NO. computational accuracy is determined by how you define your variables. Even an 8 bit processor can calculate values with 64 bit precision, one systems I worked on used a 1 bit CPU and it quite accurately sequenced the run up of a 500 MW power station.
This issue is further confused by some systems having a different sized memory addressing and data bus. Also depending on just what you're working on 64 bits may slow you down if care isn't taken or you may wind up needing a lot more RAM to hold the same amount of data.
The big advantages come from being able to address larger memory spaces thus avoiding having to page memory.
Bob.

In the article that I referenced above, it shows that the K8 chips utilize some things that haven't really been used since the Pentium Pro, and actuatly DECREASED the lines of code the machines processes (not typed in, but the compiled code) from, say, 32 to 22. This, of course, will make PROGRAMS run faster but data access will still be slower (however, with the more memory, you could throw more into ram. Theoritically, with terabytes of ram, hours of video could be put into ram which would make video editing as fast as possible (and don't say that won't happen: remember, 64k should be enough for ANYONE to do what they want!)

Plus I could see plugins move a lot faster on 64-bit now since those are mostly CPU based. Optomized DirectX plugins for Vegas could make 10fps preview turn into RT preview.

We don't support beta versions of any OS. Use at your peril.

Once XP64 is OFFICIALLY released, we'll support it. Like always, we can't promise a precise date of support in advance, but we're excited about what 64 offers.

I have read in various sources that the increased registers available with 64 bits can increase application efficiency and overall performance. But that's what we heard when we moved from 16 bits to 32 and things never got faster so who knows.

I guess since Sony will support 64 bit they must be developing it now or else there would be quite a long time before RC XP64 and supported Sony software. So I guess we did get some info after all.

Worst case would have been, "Sony does not comment on unreleased software" or "Sony currently has not plans to move to a 64bit platform."

- Mark

Again, according to the article, all you need to do to support the AMD64 specs is compile under the 64-bit compiler.

But, this is good news. That means maybe they have something in the works, just don't want to getour hopes up if Win64 doesn't show up as promised. :)

Sony does not comment on unreleased software

There you have it :)

Bingo (I'm still betting they've got a 64-bit version working!).

What about beta versions of unreleased software? :)

Richard Hunter

The second question was trying to pin SonyEPM down on a date and they already said they weren't going to discuss dates.

Exactly. They don't want to say "we'll release it on June 23rd, 2005" only to have win64 bumped back to 2006.

If they're excited that means it much be a big improvment. They were "excited" about the upgrades in V4 and boy, that was an understatement. :)

I think you're caught up in a "Grass is greener on the other side" rut.

You shouldn't be worrying about this right now. What are you going to do, rush out to buy a brand new version of Win64? How badly are you willing to get cut up on the raw edge of a new OS?

Patience, Patience. This is just a distraction.

Rob Mack