Intel, HP reveal IA-64 instruction set architecture

Intel Corporation and Hewlett-Packard Company

published the details of the IA-64 Instruction Set Architecture (ISA).

This disclosure will enable software developers around the world to

accelerate the development of the next generation of server and

workstation applications based on forthcoming IA-64 processors, beginning

with Merced in 2000.

The IA-64 architecture represents the most significant advancement in

microprocessor architecture since the introduction of the Intel 386

processor in 1985. Released on the Intel and HP web sites, the IA-64

Application Instruction Set Architecture Guide (AIG) details the

application instruction set, architecture features and the programming

model for IA-64 processors.

The release of the IA-64 architecture information is the result of the

research and development effort between Intel and HP announced in 1994.

The alliance is aimed at developing a 64-bit instruction set architecture

for advanced workstation, server and enterprise-computing systems that

protect customer software investments through compatibility with Intel's

IA-32 processors and HP's PA-RISC processors. IA-64 provides the

capabilities that the evolving Internet economy demands and will be able

to meet the increasingly large memory and performance requirements of

future data warehousing, E-business and other high performance server and

workstation applications.