32-bit vs. 64-bit

  • Thread starter Thread starter steve
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steve

Hi there,

I will be building a new Intel i7 "super computer" soon, with 6GB RAM
maybe (see below).
Up to now I have 2 desktop machines and one laptop with Windows XP Pro
and 2 laptops with Windows Vista Home Premium !
I personally don't have any problem with Vista at all but in my new
build I am looking at either putting on Windows XP Pro/Vista Ultimate
32-bit or 64-bit.. but which one to go for ?

Basically what I need to know is is there any problems with using
a 64-bit OS ? ......
Mainly I am wondering will all my "usual" programs like Eudora
(email), Agent (Newsgroup), Nero, Microsoft Money etc (all work OK on
32-bit of course) run on it ?

Or will it be more trouble (and money - because of having to
re-purchase 64-bit programs) than it is worth ?
And in that case should I just settle for 3GB RAM, or buy the 6GB
anyway on case of future upgrades ?

Any help/advice would be greately appreciated !

Thanks in advance,

Steve
 
steve said:
Hi there,

I will be building a new Intel i7 "super computer" soon, with 6GB RAM
maybe (see below). Up to now I have 2 desktop machines and one
laptop with Windows XP Pro and 2 laptops with Windows Vista Home
Premium ! I personally don't have any problem with Vista at all but
in my new build I am looking at either putting on Windows XP
Pro/Vista Ultimate 32-bit or 64-bit.. but which one to go for ?

Basically what I need to know is is there any problems with using a
64-bit OS ? ...... Mainly I am wondering will all my "usual" programs
like Eudora (email), Agent (Newsgroup), Nero, Microsoft Money etc
(all work OK on 32-bit of course) run on it ?

Or will it be more trouble (and money - because of having to
re-purchase 64-bit programs) than it is worth ? And in that case
should I just settle for 3GB RAM, or buy the 6GB anyway on case of
future upgrades ?

Any help/advice would be greately appreciated !

Thanks in advance,

Steve
Click to expand...

i posted this in the vegas forum, but you'll get the idea.....

so, i caved in and loaded vegas 9 32 cause I WANT MY PLUGINS! well, not
really, but the project i'm working on was already 'looked', and i just
didn't have the patience to try and recreate the feel... so, now i'm a
little more in 7 than i am in xp, and finding:

a. i have thumbnails for ALL my files in explorer!

b. so far everything has played back on wmp without a hitch!

c. 9 32 isn't as snappy as 64, but it somehow feels faster than 32
running under 32. (yeah, i know, wishful thinking...)


for a (nervous) old fart, i have to say i'm very taken with 7, and
coming back to xp is rather like shooting with a beta rig vs a v1p - you
know it's the real thing, but hey, the new kid on the block sure knows
how to do it as well (if not a damn sight better!).

so, so far no problems (hence the nervousness), but it's early days...
i'm going to start loading some of my other software during the week
(rather like moving into a new house), and we'll see how it all fits
together.

my only dislike so far (and it's probably ignorance at work), is the new
start menu (i gather it's similar to vista?) - i'd like to create my own
folders and groups and such, but it seems overly complicated to achieve,
if not impossible. i know m$ decided not to look back with a 'classic'
menu, but it's another thing looking too far forward as well.....
 
7 64-bit lets you install software in 32-bit mode, it'd seem that anything
compatible with Windows 32-bit OSs should work.

I'm not sure if the 64-bit versions of XP and Vista also have that feature.
Maybe lookup 'WoW' as that is used in 7 to run the 32-bit programs on the
64-bit version.

I'm neither sure exactly how it runs them back-compatible, but in theory
it'd need to 'pad out' the extra address space or force the programs to run
in the 32-bit &less registers only - that could be why some people say that
running 32-bit code in a 64-bit OS is actually slower (more operations are
needed overall), but it can be faster also if the extra address space is used
more comprehensively.
 
XP and Vista x64 will let you install 32 bit programs. I'm using Vista x64
at the mo with 8 GB.

I've used XP Pro x64 previously.

The only thing that MAY not work in 64 bit is INCD (part of Nero). With
Vista x64, drivers MUST be 64 bit
in order to work. Otherwise, it wont work / it'll block the driver from
loading / working

The only other program (that I know of) that doesnt work in 64 bit is trojan
remover. I havent come across any other programs (yet)
that dont work in 64 bit

So, before you install 64 bit, MAKE SURE everything you've got has 64 bit
drivers

It also depends WHAT you want to do (if you decide to install 64 bit). I do
a bit of video editing now and then
so thats why I decided to install it. And the mobo supports up to 16 GB. So,
it would be a waste using 32 bit, and only
being able to use 3.25 - 3.5 GB of it
 
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