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x64 also know as x86-64. Yeah I know. I'm using x86 as general reference the whole family tree not the precursor subset.

' ... while Mac OS X uses "x86_64" ... '
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86

the 64 bit additions just removed some of the brain damaged limitations on registers and sanity.

Perhaps the fact that Intel uses the term "x64" should have some weight...

 
Perhaps the fact that Intel uses the term "x64" should have some weight...

From the article you quoted, no it doesn't. (emphasis added )

" ... x64 is a generic name for the 64-bit extensions to Intel's and AMD's 32-bit x86 instruction set architecture (ISA). AMD introduced the first version of x64, initially called x86-64 and later renamed AMD64. ....

x64 doesn't stand by itself. It isn't distinct architecture. It is a variant on x86 (an extension ). In the context of talking about whether Intel is going to fab x86 , ARM , PowerPC , or SPARC chips, the sub-extensions of x86 aren't all that relevant. Just like MIPS32 and MIPS65 are covered by MIPS. ARM's 16, 32, and now 64 variants are covered by ARM. PowerPC 32 and 64 variants are PowerPC .
 
From the article you quoted, no it doesn't. (emphasis added )

" ... x64 is a generic name for the 64-bit extensions to Intel's and AMD's 32-bit x86 instruction set architecture (ISA). AMD introduced the first version of x64, initially called x86-64 and later renamed AMD64. ....

x64 doesn't stand by itself. It isn't distinct architecture. It is a variant on x86 (an extension ). In the context of talking about whether Intel is going to fab x86 , ARM , PowerPC , or SPARC chips, the sub-extensions of x86 aren't all that relevant. Just like MIPS32 and MIPS65 are covered by MIPS. ARM's 16, 32, and now 64 variants are covered by ARM. PowerPC 32 and 64 variants are PowerPC .

Microsoft, Intel, Sun and others use "x64" both in product literature and technical details like filenames for software.

Other terms are losing ground, although they will stick around for a long time (often hidden) when they are used in software (like when you select "x64" in a Microsoft installation dialog box, the files that are installed are often in an "amd64" directory in the kit).

To clarify the apparent contradiction in the last two paragraphs - when you select a 64-bit product to download from Microsoft - the downloaded file will have "x64" in its name. When the kit is unpacked and installed, some of the kit files/directories may have "amd64" in their names - hidden from the user.

For example, the Win7 SP1 update files are:

windows6.1-KB976932-IA64.exe 511.6 MB
windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe 903.2 MB
windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe 537.8 MB​
 
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