Hi Zygy,
I don't know of any specific, really good links. But in a nutshell:
- 64-bit uses a wider data path than 32-bit. What this means is that
information inside the machine can move and be processed more quickly. Sort
of a "duh", but that's all it really boils down to.
- Unless an application is specifically written to take advantage of the
wider data paths, it will run in 32-bit mode, regardless of which operating
system is used. There are not many of these available on the consumer market
at this time.
- 64-bit Vista requires the use of signed drivers, so you cannot force an
unsigned one to be used like you can in 32-bit Vista. Because of this, some
hardware is not supported fully, and some may never be as device makers
don't see a big need to pay for signed drivers for what is currently a niche
crowd.
- Memory capacity. 32-bit operating systems, by their very nature, only have
4GB of address space available. So, that's the upper theoretical limit for
use in 32-bit Vista. The practical limit is closer to 3.2GB as some of those
addresses are reserved by the system for the hardware. In x64 this limit can
be much higher (depends on the version you choose).
- Use of memory however is still dependent on the application, regardless of
how much you can use. Many still run from the lower 4GB range unless
specifically written to take advantage of the upper. Meaning that even with
the extra memory you still may not see any advantages.
64-bit has the cool factor, but for the average consumer there is no real
advantage (yet!), and may even be some disadvantages. Computing will
continue to migrate in this direction, just as we moved from 16-bit to 32
during the Win95-98 era, and x64 will eventually become the norm. By then
though, the hardware you have now will probably be out of date.
--
Best of Luck,
Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
Windows help -
www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts
http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com