Microsoft’s 128-bit indiscretion discloses AMD Bulldozer, Intel Haswell?

Recently, Robert Morgan from Microsoft Research got its 15-min of fame after claiming that he is “working in high security department for research and development involving strategic planning for medium and long-term projects. Research & Development projects including 128bit architecture compatibility with the Windows 8 kernel and Windows 9 project plan.”

This was not the only status update posted on LinkedIn. Prior to account deletion, he also posted following updates:

• “Robert Morgan is using Hestia (custom software package) for experimenting with the processor for scientific analysis and 3D graphics. Error: Memory Latency? Always gotta be a challenge barrier, it’s gotta be a bug in Hestia. right?!”
• “Robert Morgan is frustrated with process standards and regulations! Delays Delays!”

Yes, you’ve read that correctly. According to now defunct LinkedIn account, British branch of Microsoft Research team is working on getting IA-128 to achieve “full binary compatibility on the existing IA-64 instructions in the hardware simulation to work for Windows 8.”

The fact that Windows 8 and Windows 9 kernels are to support the 128-bit CPU architecture speak for itself, but the physical hardware is coming sooner than most people think. It isn’t hard to predict what processors will support 128-bit instruction set – not on the CPUs coming next year, but starting from 2011, we should see 128-bit CPUs coming our way, such as AMD Bulldozer core. The question is in the air for Intel’s Haswell architecture. Haswell is the successor to Sandy Bridge architecture [Nehalem-Westmere / 45nm-32nm, Sandy Bridge-Ivy Bridge / 32nm-22nm], but besides bringing Larrabee set of features into the CPU, not much is known about the part.

All we can say at this point is that Microsoft would not work on bringing 128-bit operating system in 2012 without appropriate hardware, and we heard about AMD’s 128-bit processors way back in 2006, from a C-level executive coming from one of their key partners, later confirmed by S-level and V-level execs. A lot of things have changed since then, but if Bulldozer is three years late [2009-2010-2011], there might be a pretty good reason why.

Original Author: Theo Valich

Webmaster’s note: This news article is part of our Archive, if you are looking for up-to date articles we would recommend a visit to our technology news section on the frontpage. Additionally, we take great pride in our Home Office section, as well as our VPN Reviews, so be sure to check them out as well.