32 vs 64 bit for everyday use

[egale]

Need to buy a new PC for my Mom. She doesn't need high end so its cheaper just to buy then to build myself. The problem I have is that the Dells/HPs are mostly using 64 bit Vista. I'm sure all the drivers and such are working fine but I am concerned about the software she runs. Besides the normal net browsing, she plays a lot of low end puzzle, card and word games.

It is important that all these games run properly. Do you think there will be a problem with the 64bit os and her games? At this point, what are the problem softwares that still won't run?

 

[Itchrelief]

This is my experience (disclaimer, I'm tech un-savvy enough that this post could be entirely wrong):

Probably only going to be a problem if she has old 16-bit Dos/Win3.1 type programs. Dosbox works for the former. I'm not tech savvy enough to know how to make the latter work.

Going to get a new monitor as part of the package? Because if she has an old-ass monitor, she may have trouble finding an .inf for it to enable strange resolutions like 1152 by 864 at 85Hz (again, my lack of tech-savviness). That's the highest resolution that displays without blurriness on my crappy 19" CRT. It used to work at 85 and 100Hz in XP and Vista 32, but can't find drivers for it for 64 (manufacturer seems to have discontinued support and I don't want to put in some random driver some guy in Romania hacked together).

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Originally posted by: egale
Need to buy a new PC for my Mom. She doesn't need high end so its cheaper just to buy then to build myself. The problem I have is that the Dells/HPs are mostly using 64 bit Vista. I'm sure all the drivers and such are working fine but I am concerned about the software she runs. Besides the normal net browsing, she plays a lot of low end puzzle, card and word games.

It is important that all these games run properly. Do you think there will be a problem with the 64bit os and her games? At this point, what are the problem softwares that still won't run?

She should be fine. There is a 32 bit compatibility layer implemented and if that isn't enough you could right click the shortcut and set compatibility to an earlier os.

 

[egale]

The monitor is a 7 year old dell 17" crt. Nothing really wrong with it but maybe its time for a new lcd for her too.

There are no dos/win 3.1 apps for sure so I guess she would be ok.

 

[Bateluer]

I would think she would be fine with 64 bit Vista.

 

[Itchrelief]

Originally posted by: egale
The monitor is a 7 year old dell 17" crt. Nothing really wrong with it but maybe its time for a new lcd for her too.

There are no dos/win 3.1 apps for sure so I guess she would be ok.

Well, 1024x768 works just fine, at least for me. It's just the unusual, rare ones like 1152x864 (which also happened to be the one I used to use pre-vista 64) that might not be supported by the default drivers. (well, it works, but only at 60Hz).

 

[KeypoX]

prob go 64bit especially if she is gonna use it for a long period of time.

 

[Thetech]

The easiest way to tell if a computer has 32 or 64 bit Windows Vista is this way,
if it has 3 GB of ram or less more than likely it's 32 bit, if a system has 4GB or more than
it definitely has a 64 Bit OS. A 32 Bit OS cannot make use of more than 3-3.5GB or RAM.

Windows Vista 64Bit is not compatible with any hardware that needs a 32Bit Driver. Most 32 Bit programs will work fine, although
from what I recall for example. Say that a computer has 6GB of RAM, a 64 Bit program running on a 64 Bit OS will
be able to make use of all of your memory. BUT a 32 Bit program will only be able to use up to 3-3.5GB.

To simplify it all, if your mother doesn't have any old hardware, or really old programs 64 Bit is the way to go.
If she has an older printer check to see if a compatible driver is available for it. And do her a favor and just get
her a new LCD Monitor, even a small one doesn't cost that much. Just tell her it's her mothers day gift.

 

[bsobel]

from what I recall for example. Say that a computer has 6GB of RAM, a 64 Bit program running on a 64 Bit OS will
be able to make use of all of your memory. BUT a 32 Bit program will only be able to use up to 3-3.5GB.

Incorrect. A 32bit program will be able to use upto 2gig unless its marked large address aware in which case it will receive 4gig of address space.

 

[egale]

Nothing really old. Her printer is a cheapo Canon I believe. She uses it so rarely that when it is time for ink, it is usually cheaper just to replace whatever printer she has.

She is getting 64bit!!!!!!