Is 64-bit worth it?

[thegorx]

Have you tried a 16bit OS ? It's all a Pipe Dream !
They don't make software like that no more !

 

[hennessy1]

I think anandtech ran a benchmark way back in the day though when it came out if not there were other websites that did I know I looked because I was going to make the switch to 64bit before I really did but it wasn't that impressive to me.

 

[masteraleph]

Originally posted by: mgutz

Originally posted by: ascarytiger
has anyone tried gaming on the 64bit platform?

i'm old school: starcraft and warcraft III FT play just fine

Baldur's Gate II also works with no problem.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: hennessy1
I think anandtech ran a benchmark way back in the day though when it came out if not there were other websites that did I know I looked because I was going to make the switch to 64bit before I really did but it wasn't that impressive to me.

Anandtech review is now very old,there have been a lot of updates and drivers released since then,Vista x64 is the way to go IMHO if you have the drivers for your hardware,better security,memory support,more future proof .Remember Mircosoft's next OS Vienna is going to be 64 bit only.


Vista x64 32 bit software support is excellent so you get best of both worlds.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: pcslookout
with as cheap ram is today just get Vista 64 bit and 8 GB of ram.

:thumbsup:

This begs the obvious question, why on earth would any home user/gamer get 8 GB of RAM just so they can feel good about Vista64?
Might as well build a beowulf cluster at home to feel good about Linux(if you have a Linux disc somewhere that is).

 

[hennessy1]

I wouldnt just buy 8gb just to use an OS. I have 8gb because I run a file server, game rig, virtual pc's, A central hub for all networked files in the home, and alot of remote pc and I usually run these all with a few of those open not just one at a time. If I wanted to I wouldnt use a pf but I have the room on my drive so I do and it comes out to about 15-16gb total of physical and virtual memory.

 

[bsobel]

My view, 32 bit computing is ending. You can install Vista 32 and run the last 32bit OS on your new machine (perhaps limiting it especially if you go >3gig of ram) or you can run Vista 64 and run the first real 64bit (MS) offering (XP64 was always an orphan). Moving forward the replacement to Vista will be 64bit only.

Some of the new technologies are very memory hungry (e.g. virtual machines, games) so breaking the 3-4gig barrier will move the entire platform forward. Even if you only have 2gig today, I'd still go with Vista64 so you CAN upgrade to 4gig later.