On Wed, 1 Oct 2008, Andrew Zbikowski wrote: >> So will software compiled for AMD x64 work just as well on Xeon x64? >> It looked like the Ubuntu web page on 64-bit OS was making no important >> distinction between AMD and Intel. > > All of Intel's current main stream 64 bit chips use the same 64 bit > extensions as AMD. Celerorn, Core2, Xeon are all amd64 (or x64, > orx86-64, or EM64T, or....) AMD developed the extended instruction set, > and various Linux distros adopted AMD64 before Intel began offering it's > own 64 bit chips using the x86-64 bit extensions, and before the > industry had adopted a vendor neutral moniker for x86 processors with > the 64 bit extensions. > > The exception is the Itanium line of processors, which is Intel and HP's > own brand of foot crushing 64 bit computing. (IA-64). Thanks. Now I get it. I guess when Dan Armbrust referred to AMD64 he meant to include all chips using those 64-bit extensions (such as Xeon x5400 series). All of you have helped me a lot to understand what the issues are. I feel a lot more confident about making a purchase now. Mike