will getting a 64 bit processor prolong the ife of my computer?

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alexr

Hi, I was wondering, will getting a 64 bit processor prolong the life
of my comp? I'm worried that a 64 bit version of windows may come out
in the next 3 years or so, and then all sorts of new software would
come out for it that i wouldn't be able to run on a p4 or centrino?
Basically i'm worried that there will be a change like there was from
windows 3.1 to windows 95, and i wouldn't be able to run the new
windows with a p4 or centrino. While with an amd 64, i would be able
to run 64 bit windows.


Thanks.
 
I still run (rarely) my original WordStar and other programs
from the days of the PC - 8088 processor on DOS. If your
software does not run on newer OSes, then that software was
constructed defectively. 32 bit programs should work just
fine on a 64 bit processor. But this assumes program was
constructed using standard programming techniques.
 
w_tom said:
I still run (rarely) my original WordStar and other programs
from the days of the PC - 8088 processor on DOS. If your
software does not run on newer OSes, then that software was
constructed defectively. 32 bit programs should work just
fine on a 64 bit processor. But this assumes program was
constructed using standard programming techniques.
Click to expand...

You missed the point. Your dos program might on windows 2020 but that's not
what he is asking. He's asking if 64 bit windows and programs compiled for
it will run on an existing P4. A bit like the days when win95 would not run
on a 286. I'm interested to know the answer myself.

Michael
 
Michael said:
You missed the point. Your dos program might on windows 2020 but that's not
what he is asking. He's asking if 64 bit windows and programs compiled for
it will run on an existing P4. A bit like the days when win95 would not run
on a 286. I'm interested to know the answer myself.
Click to expand...

Windows XP, (32bit), runs fine on any AMD64 CPU. WindowsXP x64,
(64bit), is an entirely different operating system that also runs on the
AMD64 CPU. 32bit *programs* run on either OS. Win x64 uses an internal
device called "WoW", Windows on Windows, to achieve this. A very few
32bit *programs* cannot be installed on Win XP x64.

I still run Wordstar, SuperCalc and a number of DOS programs I wrote
myself, in a DOS window on Windows 98. WindowsXP, 32bit or 64bit, does
not have a DOS window, hence pure DOS *programs* will not run on WinXP.
 
alexr said:
Hi, I was wondering, will getting a 64 bit processor prolong the life
of my comp? I'm worried that a 64 bit version of windows may come out
in the next 3 years or so, and then all sorts of new software would
come out for it that i wouldn't be able to run on a p4 or centrino?
Basically i'm worried that there will be a change like there was from
windows 3.1 to windows 95, and i wouldn't be able to run the new
windows with a p4 or centrino. While with an amd 64, i would be able
to run 64 bit windows.
Click to expand...

The 64bit version of Windows is already *out*. It is called WindowsXP
Prof x64, and is available pre-installed or as an OEM release from
Microsoft. Many printers, scanners, and cameras do not yet have 64bit
drivers, and there are few 64 bit programs, but present 32bit programs
run well.

WindowsXP, 32bit, runs as well on the AMD64 as on 32 bit CPU's. Some
programs even run better! So there is no reason not to get a 64bit
processor, even if you wait for a 32bit OS.
 
Obviously software compiled for 64 bit code would not
execute on a 32 bit processor such as P4. Same program would
have to be compiled for 32 bit code to run on a P4.

That also means an OS compiled in 64 bit code will not run
on a 32 bit processor. But 32 bit application code will run
 
In message <[email protected]>
alexr said:
Hi, I was wondering, will getting a 64 bit processor prolong the life
of my comp? I'm worried that a 64 bit version of windows may come out
in the next 3 years or so, and then all sorts of new software would
come out for it that i wouldn't be able to run on a p4 or centrino?
Basically i'm worried that there will be a change like there was from
windows 3.1 to windows 95, and i wouldn't be able to run the new
windows with a p4 or centrino. While with an amd 64, i would be able
to run 64 bit windows.
Click to expand...

The short answer is no. 64bit operating systems and/or programs cannot
operate in a modern 32bit processor. Technically it's possible to
emulate, but unlike virtualization (which is that VPC and VMWare
products do), emulation is extremely slow.

However, it will likely be a good long while before 32bit vs 64bit
processors really make a big difference to your day to day computing.

the 80386 chips were first delivered to customers in 1986, it was
roughly 10 years before Windows95 came out, which was the first real
major consumer OS that required a 386 (Sure there was NT3.51, OS/2, and
even Win3.11+Win32s, plus a few others), but at the end of the day,
Windows 95 was the first one to really hit it big.

Things are obviously very different today since we already have a 64bit
compatible version of Windows on the market today, but chances are that
very little your average user does today will start requiring a 64bit
platform within the next 3-5 years.
 
(Fixed Message flow)

I still run (rarely) my original WordStar and other programs
from the days of the PC - 8088 processor on DOS. If your
software does not run on newer OSes, then that software was
constructed defectively. 32 bit programs should work just
fine on a 64 bit processor. But this assumes program was
constructed using standard programming techniques.
Click to expand...

So? That wasn't the question -- The question was whether or not a
64-bit version of a program will run on an existing P4 (or other 32-bit
architecture)

Care to try WinXP on your 8088 processor and see how it goes?
 
In message <[email protected]> VWWall
Windows XP, (32bit), runs fine on any AMD64 CPU. WindowsXP x64,
(64bit), is an entirely different operating system that also runs on the
AMD64 CPU. 32bit *programs* run on either OS. Win x64 uses an internal
device called "WoW", Windows on Windows, to achieve this. A very few
32bit *programs* cannot be installed on Win XP x64.

I still run Wordstar, SuperCalc and a number of DOS programs I wrote
myself, in a DOS window on Windows 98. WindowsXP, 32bit or 64bit, does
not have a DOS window, hence pure DOS *programs* will not run on WinXP.
Click to expand...

While true, that's again not the original question that was asked...
 
In three years, or when win64, retail, finally appears, the rest of your hw
will be out of date, allways assuming your existing hw will have win64
drivers.
So its not worth the bother/worry.
 
DevilsPGD said:
(Fixed Message flow)



So? That wasn't the question -- The question was whether or not a
64-bit version of a program will run on an existing P4 (or other 32-bit
architecture)
Click to expand...

Remember that some P4's are 64-bits compatible. I have a Pentium D with
EM64T and it runs 64-bit programs and OS's. Intel says you can run Win
XP-64, and I know first-hand that 64-bit Linux runs fine on mine. I can not
run a 64-bit compiled program on the Pentium D when it is running a 32-bit
OS, but it will run under a 64-bit OS.

So, the answer is:

No, you can not run 64-bit OS or 64-bit apps on a non-64 bit machine.

But some Pentiums are 64-bit compatible (Prescott, Smithfield among others).

If you are interested look here for more info:

http://www.intel.com/technology/64bitextensions/faq.htm

What I am not sure about is how Intel's 64-bit capabilities compare to
AMD's.

Peter
 
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