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From: trebor@lkbreth.foretune.co.jp (Robert Trebor Woodhead)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: 64-bit addressing
Message-ID: <9042@lkbreth.foretune.co.jp>
Date: 19 Feb 91 06:17:40 GMT
References: <4270@lectroid.sw.stratus.com> 	<1991Feb18.032849.16544@uicbert.eecs.uic.edu> <RAJE.91Feb18123559@dolores.Stanford.EDU>
Organization: Foretune Co., Ltd.  Tokyo Japan
Lines: 45

raje@dolores.Stanford.EDU (Prasad Raje) writes:


>First the statement:

>A 64 bit address will be able to address each byte in a memory array
>10.4 kilometers on each side, populated chock full with 1Gbit DRAMs.

>So the question is, just what kind of store is a processor or even a
>massive bevy of processors going to address with 64 bit pointers?

Well, gee, for starters, consider massively parallel hydrodynamics
simulations.  It is important to realize that "the need for a 64
bit address space" does not equate to "the need for 2^64 bits/bytes/
words" of real memory.

Also, consider a worldwide "community memory pool".  Millions of people
make their "square meter" of 1Gbit DRAMs readable to the rest of the
world, adding pointers to other people's data as they wish.

I confidently predict that within 20 years (perhaps within 10!) 64 bits
will seem too small, and the big fight will be between the "96 bits is
enough" and the "you're nuts, we need at least 128 bits" camps, with a
lunatic fringe out there clamoring for 256 bit addressing.

Woodhead's 1st law of Computer Resource Utilization:

   "Each time you double the {size of ram/size of hard disk/speed of cpu},
    the time required before this increased capacity becomes inadequate
    is halved."

Woodhead's 2nd law:

   "For any interesting task you want to do, your processor is always
    a little bit to slow, and your memory is always a little bit to
    small.  This is true on every machine from a Nintendo to a Cray.
    Insightful programmers refer to this as the "Job Security
    Syndrome."


-- 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Robert J. Woodhead, Biar Games / AnimEigo, Incs.   trebor@foretune.co.jp |
| "The Force. It surrounds us; It enfolds us; It gets us dates on Saturday |
| Nights." -- Obi Wan Kenobi, Famous Jedi Knight and Party Animal.         |


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