-1-A History of Modern 64-bit ComputingMatthew Kernermatthew.kerner@microsoft.comNeil Padgettnpadgett@microsoft.comCSEP590AFeb 2007-1-BackgroundBy early 2002, the rumors had been swirling for months: despite the company’s intense focus onits IA64 64-bit processor, Intel engineers in Oregon were busy updating the company’svenerable x86/Pentium line with 64-bit EM64T (later Intel64) extensions. Not only would thismean Intel was potentially forgoing, or at least hedging, its bet on IA64 as its next
