When Will Solidworks Be a 64 Bit Program ?

I am looking to buy a new system and wondering if a 32 bit processor (P4)
will be obsolete within the couple of releases of SW, if they go 64 bit. I
read that Intel will release a processor with 64 bit extensions this August,
but I need the machine now. Anyone know if SW will be both 32 and 64 bit
compatible? Or if the current P4 motherboards could be upgraded with a 64
bit processor?

TIA

 

Anyone know if SW will be both 32 and 64 bit compatible?
Right now, SWX is 32 bit, but I think it is safe to assume a 64 bit
version will be released once a 64 bit version of Windows is released
and becomes established. SWX has not publicly committed to this, and no
one really knows when this will happen, but, IMO, it will eventually
happen.

I am not sure, but I would doubt it.

My advice:
If I really needed a computer now, I would go for an AMD Athlon64
system. The Athlon64 already runs today's 32 bit OS's and software VERY
fast: comparable or better than the fastest Pentiums. PLUS, when the
transition to 64 bit OS/software does take place, the Athlon64 will be
ready with no need for a hardware upgrade.
Be sure and get a socket 939 Athlon as this is the newest and most
future proof. Socket 939 should be with us for a while.

In short, the Athlon64 offers the best of all worlds right now: Great 32
bit performance, future compatibility with 64 bit software, and a
reasonable price.

 

..

Thanks for the input. I am almost sold on the AMD. I'm looking at Althon64
3000 - P4 3.0E and according to Toms hardware test
http://www20.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040322/prescott-07.html the P4 looks a
bit faster. This test is for ProE and UG, so I don't know how well this
translates to SW. BTW, I run ProE also. Thoughts?

 

One thought:
If you are trying (and I do emphasize TRYING) to build a future-proof
system, I would HIGHLY recommend any of the following processors:
Athlon64 3500+ - 2.2GHz - 512KB L2 - ($499)
Athlon64 3800+ - 2.4GHz - 512KB L2 - ($714)
Athlon64 FX-53 - 2.4GHz - 1024KB L2 - ($821)

These are all socket 939 processors which is the new socket for
performance desktop systems. It supports dual channel unregistered
(non-ECC) memory and is generally expected to be around for a while.

Socket 754 is the interface used up till now for the Athlon64 series,
generally the 3400+ and down. It only supports single channel
unregistered (non-ECC) memory and is expected to last for a while, but
more for the budget market.

Socket 940 is the interface used for AMD's Opteron, server/workstation
class 64 bit proccessor. It only supports dual channel REGISTERED (ECC)
memory, which is more expensive, but more reliable memory normally used
in servers.