Beyond Large Address Spaces

Other compelling reasons why you might want to create 64-bit applications include:

• You need to perform a lot of computation on 64-bit integer quantities that use the wider data paths of a 64-bit processor to gain performance.

• Several system interfaces have been enhanced, or limitations removed, because the underlying data types that underpin those interfaces have become larger.

• You want to obtain the performance benefits of the 64-bit instruction set, such as improved calling conventions and full use of the register set.