Intel® 64 Integration

Overview
Desktop System Requirements
Integration

Overview

Certain boxed Intel® desktop processors have support for Intel® 64,¹ delivering flexibility for operating systems and future software that supports 64-bit computing.

In order to take advantage of this technology, an entire 64-bit hardware and software solution stack is required, ranging from processors and device drivers to operating systems, tools and applications.

The primary value to users lies in potential performance improvements achieved by the ability to address greater than 4GB of both virtual and physical memory, the latter also requiring platform/motherboard designs including this much system memory.

Digital media applications are expected to see benefits from Intel 64¹ in their ability to process high quality audio and video, as well as 3D rendering.

Desktop system requirements

To take advantaged of Intel 64,¹ an entire 64-bit hardware and software solution stack is required.

CPU: An Intel desktop processor with support for Intel 64 is required. Consult the Product Specifications and Comparisons to see which processors support Intel 64.
Chipset: A motherboard with the one of the following chipsets is currently required to support Intel 64: Intel® 910, Intel® 915x/925X/XE, Intel® 945x946x/955X/975X, Intel® 965x/963x, Intel® 3 Series, Intel® 4 Series, or Intel® 5 Series Express Chipsets.
BIOS: A BIOS must have support for Intel 64. Processor will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel 64-enabled BIOS.
Operating system: An OS that supports Intel 64 is required. Supporting OSs may include: Windows* 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows 64-bit client OS release, Red Flag* version 4.1, Novell* Linux Desktop 9, or Red Hat DT* 3.0 and higher. Contact your OS vendor for more information on specific release dates.
Drivers: Although your OS should come with standard 64-bit drivers, you must update your hardware drivers with 64-bit enabled drivers to run in 64-bit mode.
Applications: Applications must be coded and compiled to support Intel 64. Contact your software vendor for specific software capabilities.

Integration

Standard integration procedures should be followed for installing all the various system hardware components. Once all the hardware components have been installed correctly, take the following recommended integration steps:

Download and run latest BIOS update for your motherboard. Some systems may not boot an Intel desktop processor with Intel 64 support if a suitable BIOS is not already installed. In this case you will need to install a processor into the motherboard that does not have support for Intel 64. Then obtain and install a BIOS that supports Intel 64 from your board manufacturer before reinstalling the Intel desktop processor with Intel 64 support.
Boot the system and install an Intel 64 enabled operating system.
Update system drivers with drivers encoded for Intel 64 support.
Install 32-bit and 64-bit encoded software applications.

An Intel processor with support for Intel 64 can operate in either 32-bit mode or 64-bit mode. In all modes an Intel 64 enabled BIOS is required.

If a 32-bit operating system is installed, the processor will run in 32-bit mode. In this case 64-bit drivers are not required.

With a 64-bit operating system the computer will either operate in 64-bit mode or what is called Compatibility Mode. In either mode all system drivers must be 64-bit. In 64-bit mode, 64-bit and 32-bit applications can be running in the system concurrently. Legacy 32-bit applications run in Compatibility Mode. 64-bit applications will have new executables not compatible with 32-bit apps. In other words 64-bit applications generally cannot share libraries with 32-bit executables.

Operating Mode Requirements

Operating System		Drivers Required	BIOS Intel® 64 Aware?	Application Usage
32-bit OS		32-bit	Yes	32-bit
64-bit OS	64-bit mode	64-bit	Yes	64-bit
64-bit OS	Compatibility Mode	64-bit	Yes	32-bit

For more information visit the following websites:

Boxed Intel processor integration procedures
Intel desktop board BIOS updates
Intel desktop board driver updates
Also see: www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/microarchitecture/intel-64-architecture-embedded.html

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR REFERENCE USE ONLY AND IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITH NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The system vendor builder remains solely responsible for the design, sale and functionality of its product. Please check with the hardware and software product vendors for current and compatibility information regarding specific product models. All products are based on current expectations, and subject to change without notice.

1. Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software configurations. See www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/microarchitecture/intel-64-architecture-embedded.html for more information including details on which processors support Intel 64 or consult with your system vendor for more information.