32 versa 64

[Zygy]

Will someone more knowledgeable than I provide me with a link, which will
explain the pros and cons of 64 bit Vista as against a 32 bit one. Thank
you.

 

[Rick Rogers]

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though, the hardware you have now will probably be out of date.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

 

[Zygy]

Hi Rick,

Many thanks for the very comprehensive reply. I noticed only to day that HP
are now producing drivers for Scanjet 5530 I purchase in 2003 compatible
with Vista in 64 bits. So maybe there is also a driver for my HP Printer, in
which case I will be OK. Kind Regards Zygy.

 

[Bob Campbell]

just as we moved from 16-bit to 32

during the Win95-98 era

the move from 16 to 32 was abrupt and it came with a multitude of positive
results.

64 bit vista is mostly for fanboys at the moment because everyone is
ignoring it in the industry.

in short, get hardware that supports 64 bit, but install 32 bit vista
and ignore fanboys who like to get people in trouble, by calling it a "cool
factor"[/QUOTE]

If you get hardware that supports 64 bit, there is no reason to run 32
bit Vista on it - unless you have some old printer or scanner or
something that has no 64 bit driver.

 

[Ian D]

The point, really, that I was trying to make was that the 80386 were 32
Bit, but we only saw a -commercially available- 32 bit operating system
nearly 10 years after the 386 debut. How long ago did the first x64 CPU
debut? And how long after that did we get Windows XP 64? Windows XP 64
was good and stable, but how much commercial use did it enjoy compared
to it's x86 sibling? Vista x64 has a far greater adoption than 1%, I'm
sure. I can't verify this, because my ADSL is giving problems (don't ask
- I'm in South Africa and at the mercy Telkom!)

It's only within the last couple of years or so that PCs with 64 bit
capability have become the norm. Also, every retail package of
Vista Ultimate includes the x64 version, and x64 disks are available
for the other retail versions for a small shipping fee, whereas
XP 64 has only been available in the OEM version, and not as widely
distributed. I'm sure that if retail XP Pro packages included the x64
version after its release, the XP 64 installation base would be greater.

ID