"A study in ISCA '95 by S. Malhlke, et. al. demonstrated that predication removed over 50% of the branches and 40% of the mispredicted branches from several popular benchmark programs."
( http://www.hp.com/esy/technology/ia_64/products/isapress.html )
As 411 students, we know that benchmarks are not the true test of how fast a machine runs, everyday use is the best test. However, removal of 50% of all branches, and 40% of all mispredicted branches should show significant speedup on most machines.

The first chips will probably not be able to take full advantage of all IA-64 has to offer. Compilers take several years to mature after the release of a new instruction set, and development on real machines implementing IA-64 will be many times better than development on simulations. Benchmarks (yuck :-( ) performed on the first machines will not reflect the full capability of the processor.

The first IA-64 chips will also include logic to make them backwards compatible with HP PA-RISC and Intel x86 chips. This compatibility logic will take up die space that could be used to improve IA-64 itself, so until this logic can be dropped, this is also a hindrance for taking full advantage of IA-64.

Rumor has it that Microsoft has been working on a 64-bit version of Windows NT for several years now. However, it took 10 years for software to come out that truly took advantage of 32 bit chips. (Intel introduced the first 32-bit processor, the 80386 in 1985. Windows 95 was the first operating system that took advantage of the full 32 bits.)

So, what do you think? Will there be an operating system that is able to fully harness all 64 bits when the first IA-64 chip is shipped? I would say... don't hold your breath.

Intel and HP plan to market the first IA-64 chips to businesses, not home consumers, due to the expected price. So the question becomes, will businesses buy IA-64 chips? My guess is yes.

Intel and HP have several things going for them. The first is the general reputation of both companies. Intel is known for making the best microprocessors in the computer industry, and HP is known for its mainframes.

The second is the backward compatibility designed into the logic of the first IA-64 chips. Established businesses have millions and millions of dollars tied up in software, so it is infinitely important that their old software be able to run on the new machines.

The third is the inherent scaleability of the IA-64 chip. A company with a server run by an IA-64 chip can just buy another chip and add it to the chips currently running their server when it needs to run faster.

The fourth advantage is the committment of many software companies to provide software for the new IA-64 chips.
( view the list of companies )

The fifth and final advantage HP and Intel have for the IA-64 chip is Intel's manufacturing ability. Intel has been producing microprocessors in large quantities for many years, and has the manufacturing ability to make an IA-64 chip a reality.

So, will you be hearing about record sales of IA-64 chips? Well, I would think that eventually IA-64 chips will replace x86 chips as the technical norm, and sometime in the future another student will be writing about the newest ISA that was developed to replace the aging IA-64 architecture.

Read on, and you will find out.