A Taiwan based web-site reported a rumour claiming there is a possibility to enable 64-bit capability on Intel’s latest Pentium 4 microprocessors in LGA775 form-factor using a mainboard BIOS update. While the information may be correct, it is currently highly-unlikely that such operation will becomes popular.
“Lately there have been some rumours about some special BIOS that can ‘turn on’ the 64-bit [capability] on the [Intel Pentium 4] “Prescott” processors. I have made some enquiries and it seems that there are works in progress [that] are still in ‘alpha’ stage,” a claim over the web-site OC WorkBench states.
Intel’s Extended Memory 64 Technology also known as 64-bit Extension Technology or IA32e lets Intel’s 90nm microprocessors for desktops, workstations, 2-way and 4/8-way servers to execute specially-written 64-bit code while maintaining absolute compatibility with today’s 32-bit applications.
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News source: Xbit Labs
“Lately there have been some rumours about some special BIOS that can ‘turn on’ the 64-bit [capability] on the [Intel Pentium 4] “Prescott” processors. I have made some enquiries and it seems that there are works in progress [that] are still in ‘alpha’ stage,” a claim over the web-site OC WorkBench states.
Intel’s Extended Memory 64 Technology also known as 64-bit Extension Technology or IA32e lets Intel’s 90nm microprocessors for desktops, workstations, 2-way and 4/8-way servers to execute specially-written 64-bit code while maintaining absolute compatibility with today’s 32-bit applications.
A few things to understand about NexPad:
- It requires .Net Framework 2.0
- This is an early BETA. There will be bugs. Please report them to me thoroughly
Changelog:
- Ported to .Net 2.0
- New icon
- Added 'highlight' option to find bar
- Added ability to middle click tab to close it
- Added rudimentary "previous" searching (will refine code at a later time)
- Added "Minimize to tray" option
- Added print preview capability
- Temporarily disabled drag & drop into text area. Still works anywhere else
- Refined behavior of pad that is selected after one pad is closed
- Fixed: Possible crash when selecting edit menu directly after closing a tab
- Fixed: Text formatting not saved properly for other apps to read
- Fixed: Crash when selecting edit menu with no pads open
- Fixed: Newly opened pads may not be sized correctly
- Fixed: Nonapplicable File menu options not disabled when no pads exist
- Fixed: Nonapplicable Pads menu options not disabled when no pads exist
- Fixed: Nonapplicable Format menu options not disabled when no pads exist
- Fixed: Attempting to find or replace text, with no open pads, would crash NexPad
- Fixed: Undoing all changes would still result in a "save prompt" when closing pad
- Fixed: Drag and dropping a file from explorer, with no open pads, would crash NexPad
- Fixed: Current line indicator was 1 off
- Fixed: Small graphical errors with tabs when status bar enabled (top of tabs cut off)
- Fixed: If file load, at startup, fails, a blank pad would not be opened as planned
- Cleanup: Removed nonfunctional, leftover code (extra if statements)
- Cleanup: Recoded much of the file load and pad creation functions
- Cleanup: Removed useless printDocument

but unlocking such things on present chips, seems a bit crazy... there might be more than one reason things like that were locked away.
... Um... POWER 5?
Haha, should I order your gravestone now, before the masses arrive?
It does seem a little strange that Intel would lock-out such a feature if this is true. Perhaps it's in a premature stage, therefore affecting stability. It'll be interesting to see what churns out of this..
But EM64T is just a simple extension.
I am such a bitch.
Only the P4-F and P4-P have it enabled.
"Its about time" i say, but why not make it offical... most mid level desktops OEMs are selling on the market are Athlon 64 vs P4, and in the celeron range its the Athlon Sempron, so intel wouldnt loose out though
is it emulation or just they've had that feature in there all this time and it's some kind of secret weapon against amd in the event 64bit processors ever become popular (which they are now)
sort of "here's a taster of what 64bit chips can do, and now if you want the full thing... buy this"
i swear if i ever see that Crazy Frog advert again i'm going to throw a brick thru my TV and put out a contract on Jamster, you cannot make something that frivolous become a must-have by press-saturation.
if it weren't popular in the first place it won't be after 1000 ad's. a piece of **** dressed up nice is still a piece of ****.
and they where just doing tests.
still seems strange that they would bulid a processor that is rumored to be able to run 64bit and yet lock it out. seems a waste of space and money if its their and not getting used
can i enable 64bit on this (my) prescott?
Early implementation makes it easy for Intel put out EM64T processor when ever they want, as they produce all their processors themselves and the changes required to enable it is very very small.
I don't think that Socket 478 can enable EM64T as there might be missing some pins used for addressing.
You might also need the i9xx chipsets.
if they developed and released chips like the way microsoft does its software, we would be seeing Yonah out by now
operation will become popular
"While the information may be correct, it is currently highly-unlikely that such operations will become popular."
What can I say, I'm not an early adopter.
I wonder if by enabling 64 bit on the chip there are any ill effects?
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