From NVIDIA...
NVIDIA today demonstrated its 64-bit computing platform technology leadership with the immediate availability of a Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL)-certified graphics driver that supports the entire family of Microsoft Windows x64 editions. The NVIDIA ForceWare suite of software drivers works with all of Microsoft's 64-bit and 32-bit operating systems to provide customers with updated support and features that enhance their computing experience.
The Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and the Windows XP Professional x64 Edition allow customers to easily run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications and make the shift to 64-bit computing at their own pace while preserving current investments in 32-bit applications. Customers can also expect substantial performance improvements compared to 32-bit product versions.
NVIDIA was the first to ship a WHQL Windows XP Professional x64 Edition graphics driver. Using its unified driver architecture, the ForceWare Release 70 driver brings 64-bit support to the consumer and workstation product families. By delivering a complete feature set, the NVIDIA 64-bit driver architecture leads the way for OEM customers and industry partners to confidently transition into the world of 64-bit computing. NVIDIA has worked closely with Microsoft and other key industry partners to enable full hardware support for the latest generation of 64-bit architectures and applications in the ForceWare Release 70 drivers.
The move to 64-bit technology is a further example of how NVIDIA is a driving force in digital media application development. 64-bit technology will allow the development community more flexibility to add exciting effects with larger "bit depth" and will offer the professional application developer increased memory space for creating more complex models. When combined with an NVIDIA development platform (the only platform that supports Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0), digital content developers have a forward looking computing platform to advance their art form.
From AMD...
AMD today announced all existing and upcoming single- and dual-core AMD Athlon 64, AMD Opteron and AMD Turion 64 processors are designed to be fully compatible with and deliver world-class performance on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
"AMD is setting the 64-bit standard that the industry is embracing today and our innovative AMD64 technology, together with Microsoft's new x64 operating systems, will give millions of businesses, PC and mobile users a chance to see the power of 64-bit computing come to life," said Marty Seyer, corporate vice president and general manager, Microprocessor Solutions Sector, AMD. "AMD's industry leadership is enabling a new set of applications and making pervasive 64-bit computing a reality. As the industry's only x86 processor designed from the ground up for 64-bit computing and multi-core technology, AMD64 technology-powered notebooks, desktops and servers are the best choice for leveraging these two evolutionary computing advances."
All AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Opteron processors use AMD's Direct Connect Architecture, which enables world-class 32- and 64-bit performance on Microsoft Windows and other industry-leading client and server operating systems and applications.
AMD's leadership and commitment to innovate within industry standards was again demonstrated last week with the introduction of the world's first x86 dual-core 64-bit processors for servers and workstations, the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors. The convergence of AMD64 dual-core processors and 64-bit optimized software will significantly boost performance across a broad spectrum of enterprise and compute-intensive applications. Because it was designed from the ground-up to support multi-core platforms, AMD64 technology provides investment protection by enabling business and power users to deploy the best dual-core technology in their existing industry-standard environments.
