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RE[3]: What about 64-bit only?
by twitterfire on Thu 15th Nov 2012 12:36 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: What about 64-bit only?"
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Data is 64 bit, instructions can use 16, 32 or 64 bits.
For example:

mov ah, bh //16 bit

mov ax, bx //32 bit

mov rax, rbx // 64 bit

Intel patents cover instruction set so you can't have x64 only cpus without infringing Intel's patents.

So that's why hardware patents are as bad as software patents because they hinder competition.

Reply Parent Score: 2