Vista 32bit vs 64bit

[IsenMike]

So I'm planning to upgrade to Vista in the not-too-distant future. Probably in a couple of months once the DX10 games start coming out. I'm sort of curious about the 64bit version. So I've got some questions:

Do all of the "flavors" of Vista come in 64bit versions? Or is there just one Vista64?

Am I likely to see a difference in performance between the 64bit and 32bit versions? I have a Core2Duo E6600 CPU overclocked to 3.42 GHz.

Are there issues with stability and compatibility? I seem to recall hearing that the 64bit version of XP had trouble with older applications and generally wasn't very stable. Not sure where I heard that, though.

Should I even be considering a 64bit OS for a general-purpose gaming/media computer? Or is it just for heavy number-crunching and server applications? The only real number-crunching I do is ripping my own DVDs, and I'm not sure VirtualDub would even support 64bit processing.

 

[Aberforth]

Check the performance here: http://64-bit-computers.com/windows-vista-32-bit-vs-64-bit-benchmark.html

Most of the hardware are now comaptible with 64bit platform, so i don't think you will have driver issues. When it comes gaming you are really going to see the big difference, for example: Crysis runs 15% more faster in 64bit version of Vista. Retail version of Vista comes with both 32 and 64bit version DVD's but you have license to install any one of them.

Edit: i've also read somewhere that DX10 is optimized for 64bit version.

 

[Twsmit]

64bit and 32bit performance are practically identical +/- 2% or so. The drawbacks of 64bit are that you cannot run unsigned drivers at all whatsoever. That means custom XP drivers or unsigned 32bit drivers will not work for Vista64. I have to use XP drivers for my printer in Vista and in my case if I had 64bit I would be SOL.

The other major drawback is that a lot of programs are not 64bit compatible yet. Over the last 2 years 64bit support has gotten really good, and there is no denying that using the 64bit version on an everday basis is possible, it's just that there is still a sizable amount of software out there that just doesn't work.

Retail versions of Vista ship with a Key for both 32 and 64bit, but only the 32bit CD (you have to order a 64bit CD) Ultimate retail comes with a CD for both. OEM keys are 32 or 64bit and are not transferable to my knowledge.

64bit IMO is not ready for prime time until 4GB of ram is accepted on the desktop, that is probably 12 months away at this point, Vista will eventually support 64bit fully, but today Vista 32bit is not even fully supported, running 64bit is getting all the trouble of 32bit Vista and then a whole other layer of incompatibility.

 

[Nothinman]

The other major drawback is that a lot of programs are not 64bit compatible yet.

Depends on what you mean by 64-bit compatible. No, most Windows developers haven't released 64-bit binaries because it's not necessary, the majority of apps aren't even coming close to hitting the 2G VM limit of 32-bit Windows so there's no reason to make a 64-bit release. But as for compatibility, 64-bit Vista should run 32-bit binaries just fine as long as you have all of the right 32-bit dependencies available.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

The other major drawback is that a lot of programs are not 64bit compatible yet.

Depends on what you mean by 64-bit compatible. No, most Windows developers haven't released 64-bit binaries because it's not necessary, the majority of apps aren't even coming close to hitting the 2G VM limit of 32-bit Windows so there's no reason to make a 64-bit release. But as for compatibility, 64-bit Vista should run 32-bit binaries just fine as long as you have all of the right 32-bit dependencies available.

All my 32 bit software I have thrown at my Vista x64 HP is working fine,I have all the 64 bit drivers too(took only 5 weeks from release date).

64bit IMO is not ready for prime time until 4GB of ram is accepted on the desktop, that is probably 12 months away at this point, Vista will eventually support 64bit fully, but today Vista 32bit is not even fully supported, running 64bit is getting all the trouble of 32bit Vista and then a whole other layer of incompatibility.

I disagree ,there may be lack of full third party 64 bit software but the 32 bit software and 64 bit drivers seem fine in my experience.
Btw 64 bit Vista actually removes a layer of instability ie.. no 16 bit support or 16 bit software in the OS unlike 32 bit Vista,this on its own makes it more stable,plus the improved security it has over Vista x68.
In general any third party software incompatibility will be the same for Vista x68 and Vista x64 (apart from 16 bit software).

 

[Aberforth]

64bit IMO is not ready for prime time until 4GB of ram is accepted on the desktop, that is probably 12 months away at this point, Vista will eventually support 64bit fully, but today Vista 32bit is not even fully supported, running 64bit is getting all the trouble of 32bit Vista and then a whole other layer of incompatibility.

I disagree ,there may be lack of full third party 64 bit software but the 32 bit software and 64 bit drivers seem fine in my experience.
Btw 64 bit Vista actually removes a layer of instability ie.. no 16 bit support or 16 bit software in the OS unlike 32 bit Vista,this on its own makes it more stable,plus the improved security it has over Vista x68.
In general any third party software incompatibility will be the same for Vista x68 and Vista x64 (apart from 16 bit software).
[/quote]

What is x68?

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

64bit IMO is not ready for prime time until 4GB of ram is accepted on the desktop, that is probably 12 months away at this point, Vista will eventually support 64bit fully, but today Vista 32bit is not even fully supported, running 64bit is getting all the trouble of 32bit Vista and then a whole other layer of incompatibility.

I disagree ,there may be lack of full third party 64 bit software but the 32 bit software and 64 bit drivers seem fine in my experience.
Btw 64 bit Vista actually removes a layer of instability ie.. no 16 bit support or 16 bit software in the OS unlike 32 bit Vista,this on its own makes it more stable,plus the improved security it has over Vista x68.
In general any third party software incompatibility will be the same for Vista x68 and Vista x64 (apart from 16 bit software).

What is x68?

[/quote]

Vista x68 is 32 bit Vista,bottomline if he has 64 bit drivers for his hardware,go for Vista x64 IMHO.

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: Aberforth

64bit IMO is not ready for prime time until 4GB of ram is accepted on the desktop, that is probably 12 months away at this point, Vista will eventually support 64bit fully, but today Vista 32bit is not even fully supported, running 64bit is getting all the trouble of 32bit Vista and then a whole other layer of incompatibility.

I disagree ,there may be lack of full third party 64 bit software but the 32 bit software and 64 bit drivers seem fine in my experience.
Btw 64 bit Vista actually removes a layer of instability ie.. no 16 bit support or 16 bit software in the OS unlike 32 bit Vista,this on its own makes it more stable,plus the improved security it has over Vista x68.
In general any third party software incompatibility will be the same for Vista x68 and Vista x64 (apart from 16 bit software).

What is x68?

Vista x68 is 32 bit Vista,bottomline if he has 64 bit drivers for his hardware,go for Vista x64 IMHO.[/quote]

i totally agree, 64bit is way to go at present. But people should understand it is not like XP 64bit.

 

[Nothinman]

What is x68?

Just as stupid as the "x64" moniker...