Just a quick Windows 64 bit question

[BigCoolJesus]

Just a simple 64 bit Windows question, for anyone who has the retail version........

Is it worth it?


By this i mean, is it basically the funtionality of Windows XP Pro, but in a 64bit enviroment?

I dont want to get it and have some stuff not work (like applications, games, etc)




so is it pretty stable/reliable/functional?

 

[NogginBoink]

Driver support on 64-bit is very lacking.

Most users won't have compelling reason to go to 64 bit. But if you're considering it check drivers for your hardware first.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

it supports my drivers (Nvidia, Creative, etc)

but i just want to know, how does it rate/work compared to windows Xp Pro???

do normal applications/programs still run ok even though most are 32bit apps?

 

[ViRGE]

It runs just fine, I'm using it right now and you'd never know it wasn't XP32.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

thanks, thats all i needed to know

i guess ill be getting it then

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
it supports my drivers (Nvidia, Creative, etc)

but i just want to know, how does it rate/work compared to windows Xp Pro???

do normal applications/programs still run ok even though most are 32bit apps?

You've got it totally backward. An OS doesn't "support" drivers. A vendor chooses whether or not to release drivers for a particular OS. Don't confuse the responsibilities here.

Yes, most 32 bit apps will run fine on 64 bit hardware.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
it supports my drivers (Nvidia, Creative, etc)

but i just want to know, how does it rate/work compared to windows Xp Pro???

do normal applications/programs still run ok even though most are 32bit apps?

You've got it totally backward. An OS doesn't "support" drivers. A vendor chooses whether or not to release drivers for a particular OS. Don't confuse the responsibilities here.

Yes, most 32 bit apps will run fine on 64 bit hardware.

sorry, i know drivers are vendor driven, and thats what i meant, but i was just taking a shortcut to say it

what i was meaning is, i have the necessary dirvers that work for x64

 

[BigCoolJesus]

one more thing


are all games supported on the x64 edition??

by this i dont mean if all games take advantage of the extra 32 bits, but will all games still run fine on the x64 edition???

(i read a review on newegg of a guy saying some games dont work on x64 and i just want to make sure hes not talking out of his ass)

 

[Nothinman]

Ideally, yes. But I'm sure there will be WoW32 and driver bugs that cause problems found.

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
one more thing


are all games supported on the x64 edition??

by this i dont mean if all games take advantage of the extra 32 bits, but will all games still run fine on the x64 edition???

(i read a review on newegg of a guy saying some games dont work on x64 and i just want to make sure hes not talking out of his ass)

http://wiki.planetamd64.com/index.php/Windows_x64_Games

* x64 Incompatible - aka "unWOW64" - these games were not written specifically on or for the x64 architecture and don't work with WOW64. Games wrapped in copy-protection (e.g. Starforce), 16-bit games, and poorly written games typically fall into this category.

I have had yet to have Windows x64 crash/bsod on me (a month or so) and all i do is game on the machine.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

ok, thanks.

ive still been debating whether to get x64 or just stick with the regular windows Pro

its a hard decision (im never trust worthy of the first releases of a windows product)

 

[imported_BikeDude]

I dual-boot. When I want to watch TV, or play a game with surround sound, I boot 32-bit Windows.

Some 32-bit apps like Photoshop runs noticably better under 64-bit Windows. (PS tends to eat a lot of memory...)

 

[Twsmit]

i dual boot with the Xp x64 trial (same as the retail version.. just 180 day trial) and xp x32 pro. I dont ntoice a difference with 64bit, but there are noticible application gaps. My temperature monitoring program that ships with my mobo doesnt even work with x64. I dont really use the 64 bit version simply because i need my apps to work.

i will continue to fiddle with it, but it wont be my primary OS, little advantage going with it and the headache of apps like my temp monitor not working are just a pain.