History
* 1961: IBM delivers the IBM 7030 Stretch supercomputer, which uses 64-bit data words and 32 or 64-bit instruction words. * 1974: Control Data Corporation launches the CDC Star-100 vector supercomputer, which uses a 64-bit word architecture (previous CDC systems were based on a 60-bit architecture). * 1976: Cray Research delivers the first Cray-1 supercomputer, which is based on a 64-bit word architecture and would form the basis for later Cray vector supercomputers. * 1983: Elxsi launches the Elxsi 6400 parallel minisupercomputer. The Elxsi architecture has 64-bit data registers but a 32-bit address space. * 1991: MIPS Technologies produces the first 64-bit microprocessor, the R4000 (the third revision of their MIPS RISC architecture). The CPU is used in SGI graphics workstations starting with the IRIS Crimson. However, 64-bit support for the R4000 would not be included in the IRIX operating system until IRIX 6.2, released in 1996. Kendall Square Research deliver their first KSR1 supercomputer, based on a proprietary 64-bit RISC processor architecture running OSF/1. * 1992: Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) introduces the pure 64-bit Alpha architecture which was born from the PRISM project. * 1993: DEC releases the 64-bit OSF/1 AXP Unix-like operating system (later renamed Tru64 UNIX) and the OpenVMS operating system for Alpha systems. * 1994: Intel announces plans for the 64-bit IA-64 architecture (jointly developed with Hewlett-Packard) as a successor to its 32-bit IA-32 processors. A 1998–1999 launch date is targeted. SGI releases IRIX 6.0, with 64-bit support for R8000 CPUs. * 1995: Sun launches a 64-bit SPARC processor, the UltraSPARC. Fujitsu-owned HAL Computer Systems launches workstations based on a 64-bit CPU, HAL's independently designed first generation SPARC64. IBM releases the 64-bit AS/400 system upgrade, which can convert the operating system, database and applications. DEC releases OpenVMS Alpha 7.0, the first full 64-bit version of OpenVMS for Alpha. * 1996: Nintendo introduces the Nintendo 64 video game console, built around a low-cost variant of the MIPS R4000 (it is 64 bit internally, but limited to a 32 bit bus externally). HP releases an implementation of the 64-bit 2.0 version of their PA-RISC processor architecture, the PA-8000. * 1997: IBM releases the RS64 line of full-64-bit PowerPC processors. * 1998: IBM releases the POWER3 line of full-64-bit PowerPC/POWER processors. Sun releases Solaris 7, with full 64-bit UltraSPARC support. * 1999: Intel releases the instruction set for the IA-64 architecture. AMD publicly discloses its set of 64-bit extensions to IA-32, called x86-64 (later renamed AMD64). * 2000: IBM ships its first 64-bit ESA/390-compatible mainframe, the zSeries z900, and its new z/OS operating system. 64-bit Linux on zSeries follows almost immediately. * 2001: Intel finally ships its 64-bit processor line, now branded Itanium, targeting high-end servers. It fails to meet expectations due to the repeated delays in getting IA-64 to market. Linux is the first operating system to run on the processor at its release. * 2002: Intel introduces the Itanium 2 as a successor to the Itanium. * 2003: AMD introduces its Opteron and Athlon 64 processor lines, based on its AMD64 architecture. Apple also ships the 64-bit "G5" PowerPC 970 CPU courtesy of IBM, along with an update to its Mac OS X operating system which adds partial support for 64-bit mode. Several Linux distributions release with support for AMD64. Microsoft announces plans to create a version of its Windows operating system to support the AMD64 architecture. Intel maintains that its Itanium chips would remain its only 64-bit processors. * 2004: Intel, reacting to the market success of AMD, admits it has been developing a clone of the AMD64 extensions named IA-32e (later renamed EM64T). Intel also ships updated versions of its Xeon and Pentium 4 processor families supporting the new instructions. Freescale announces the 64-bit e700 core, successor to their PowerPC G4 series. * 2004: VIA Technologies announces the Isaiah 64-bit processor.[2] * 2005: On January 31, Sun releases Solaris 10 with support for AMD64 and EM64T processors. Intel releases the EM64T based Pentium Extreme Edition 840 and Pentium D in the second quarter. On April 30, Microsoft releases Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for AMD64 and EM64T processors. In May, AMD introduces its first dual-core AMD64 Opteron and Athlon 64 X2. In July, IBM announces its new dual-core 64-bit PowerPC 970MP. Microsoft releases the Xbox 360 game console based on a 64-bit, triple-core Xenon PowerPC processor manufactured by IBM. * 2006: Dual-core Montecito Itanium 2 processors go into production. Sony, IBM, and Toshiba begin manufacturing of the 64-bit Cell processor for use in the PlayStation 3, servers, workstations, and other appliances. Apple features 64-bit EM64T Xeon processors in its new Mac Pro and Intel Xserve computers, and later updates the iMac, MacBook and MacBook Pro to use EM64T Core 2 processors. * 2007: Intel's Dual Core and Quad Core become the current 64-bit processors in production based on 65nm technology. The code name "Penryn" processors were the first CPUs to be built off of a 45nm manufacturing technology. They were delivered the third week of November, with 16 processors at launch.