[Techpowerup]AMD Preparing to Drop 32-bit Support for Radeon Drivers?

[PhonakV30]

Source :

This knowledge-base article, intended for people looking for 32-bit drivers, reads:

A system running Microsoft Windows 10 64 Bit can take full advantage of the advanced visual and performance features of these graphics cards. However, AMD also provides 64 Bit drivers for Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Windows 7 to accomodate those users who choose to use an older Microsoft Operating System.

 

[Krteq]

Great move.

Who is using x86 OS with its 4GBs memory limitation these days?

 

[frozentundra123456]

I have an old C2D for a backup/media system that is still 32 bit. I bet there are more of them than one would think. I am sure they dont have high end Fury and R9 gpus though. My old system has a HD6450 I think.

 

[sandorski]

Uhh, that could be worded that way for many different reasons. Until AM D makes it official, this article is jumping to conclusions.

That said, people should have gone 64bit years ago.

 

[Erenhardt]

It is not like those using 32bit will someday turn on their PC and the display will stay blank...

 

[MajinCry]

If you're running a 32 bit OS, at this point, you're not using hardware that needs current drivers.

If you are, why the bloody hell are you using a 32 bit OS? Windows 7, after updates, will eat up practically all the 4GB of RAM you got.

 

[tential]

Who uses 32 bit and high end gpus lol?

 

[DarkKnightDude]

I don't blame AMD honestly. Who the hell uses 32 bit and if you have a high end video card? You like less then 4 GB of RAM?

 

[NTMBK]

So long as legacy 32-bit drivers are still available, who cares? Hopefully this will push OEMs to stop making any 32-bit systems. It's been over 10 years since XP-64 came out, it's not like people didn't know this was coming.

 

[Piotrsama]

So long as legacy 32-bit drivers are still available, who cares?

+1
A legacy driver is good enough.

 

[Kenmitch]

I can't even remember the last time I've used a 32b OS. Pre Win7 I'm thinking.

 

[PhonakV30]

We have old tech like : PCI slot , Floppy Disk Connector , IDE Connector , Molex power connector.

 

[thesmokingman]

We have old tech like : PCI slot , Floppy Disk Connector , IDE Connector , Molex power connector.

Do you still use those besides the molex? The molex really does need to die though it's such a shit connector.

 

[railven]

TIL: R7 is "high end GPUs."

Wonder to see how this will affect my mom and nephews PCs. Since they still use Windows 7 32bit because the license they bought only came with it.

Might be time to force them to Windows 10.

(I tend to give my family members my old parts. But I don't give them my OS License. Since they aren't running out and buying new PCs, they often have old OSes since it's stable for their needs. Nothing wrong with a 32bit system.)

 

[MrTeal]

TIL: R7 is "high end GPUs."

Wonder to see how this will affect my mom and nephews PCs. Since they still use Windows 7 32bit because the license they bought only came with it.

Might be time to force them to Windows 10.

(I tend to give my family members my old parts. But I don't give them my OS License. Since they aren't running out and buying new PCs, they often have old OSes since it's stable for their needs. Nothing wrong with a 32bit system.)

Yeah, I have a Dell T3500 at my feet that has a 32bit OS on it, and many Dell Sandy Bridge systems were shipped out with 32bit OSes as well. Like Erenhardt and NTMBK and others have said though, the current drivers are more than passable and it's not like many people with 32bit systems will be needing Day1 driver updates to improve performance in Fallout 5 going forward.

The big caveat to that will be that ideally the 32bit drivers should support new hardware going forward. AMD would be limiting themselves going forward if Polaris is then not compatible with 32 bit OSes, since something like a half height P11 would be a perfect little GPU to toss into one of those SFF desktop systems.

 

[PhonakV30]

Do you still use those besides the molex? The molex really does need to die though it's such a shit connector.

Unfortunately I only use for Fans and HDD ( 160GB IDE )

 

[railven]

Welps, the good news is you can go from Win7 32 bit to Win10 64bit, but need to jump a few hoops. Win7 32bit > (free upgrade) Win10 32bit > (clean install) Win10 64bit

Guess I'll do that for my nephews, since chances are they'll be getting my 290X once Polaris hits. (My GF's brother will be getting her 780 Lightning as he got her old GTX 680, and she'll be getting my 980 Ti "Hybrid")

My mom's rig needs an overhaul anyways. She just surfs the net anyways. Might just get her a tablet with video out +BT keyboard/mouse Haha.

 

[Flapdrol1337]

Welps, the good news is you can go from Win7 32 bit to Win10 64bit, but need to jump a few hoops. Win7 32bit > (free upgrade) Win10 32bit > (clean install) Win10 64bit

Guess I'll do that for my nephews, since chances are they'll be getting my 290X once Polaris hits. (My GF's brother will be getting her 780 Lightning as he got her old GTX 680, and she'll be getting my 980 Ti "Hybrid")

My mom's rig needs an overhaul anyways. She just surfs the net anyways. Might just get her a tablet with video out +BT keyboard/mouse Haha.

No need to jump those hoops. Win10 activates with a win7 key, and there is no difference between a 32 and 64 bit win7 key.

Just do a clean win10 install.

 

[cytg111]

What about security/sploits?

 

[NTMBK]

What about security/sploits?

In your graphics driver? If you are running anything which could possibly launch an exploit through the graphics driver, you're already screwed.

 

[Stuka87]

I have an old C2D for a backup/media system that is still 32 bit. I bet there are more of them than one would think. I am sure they dont have high end Fury and R9 gpus though. My old system has a HD6450 I think.

You can't even use a card with 4GB+ in a system with a 32Bit OS. I mean, technically it would boot up, but you would have very little vram available to use. And any game that needs that much vram, also needs more system memory.

Plus, your 6450 has already been dropped from main line support, and is only supported through legacy drivers.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Only ~10% 32bit users on Steam. And assuming very old hardware. Not going to be a loss.

 

[ShintaiDK]

You can't even use a card with 4GB+ in a system with a 32Bit OS. I mean, technically it would boot up, but you would have very little vram available to use.

That's incorrect.

 

[ShintaiDK]

In your graphics driver? If you are running anything which could possibly launch an exploit through the graphics driver, you're already screwed.

Like random mining blocks for example?

 

[frozentundra123456]

You can't even use a card with 4GB+ in a system with a 32Bit OS. I mean, technically it would boot up, but you would have very little vram available to use. And any game that needs that much vram, also needs more system memory.

Plus, your 6450 has already been dropped from main line support, and is only supported through legacy drivers.

Not sure what is your point. I certainly am not going to put a high end video card in a 32 bit system. And I am fine with legacy drivers.

My main point was only that I think there *are* still a fair number of 32 bit systems in use. I mean, people are still running P4s and XP.