Should I get 64 or x86 Vista?

[fErN]

My computer is built of the below components and I was just wondering if it
is really worth going out and getting a 64 bit version of Vista Ultimate.
Will I actually get a substantial increase in performance? Or is it just
going to annoy me trying to update drivers and stuff. I also use the below
machine for everything from simple web design to DVD creations to advanced
modern PC games ..

Can someone give me some advice?


Current Hardware setup ..

CPU : AMD® AthlonT 64 X2 - 4600+ (Socket AM2)
MotherBoard : Asus® Crosshair, Socket AM2, NVIDIA® nForce® 590 SLIT
Ram : CorsairT 2Gb PC6400 XMS2 DDR2 TwinX Matched Pair
Series
Video Card : Asus® Extreme EN7600GT/2DHT - GeForceT 7600GT GPU
w/256Mb -1.4ns DDR3 & PCI Express x16
Hard Drives: SATA Raid 1 - x2 160GB Maxtor® DiamondMax® 10 SATA2-300
7200RPM 8Mb OEM
SATA no raid 320GB Maxtor® DiamondMax® 10 SATA2-300
7200RPM 16Mb OEM
DVD: Sony 16X DVD-ROM Drive OEM, Black
Burner: LG GSA-H10L Lightscribe Dual Layer DVD±R/RW Drive (IDE)
OEM, Black

 

[Mobilehavoc]

My computer is built of the below components and I was just wondering if it
is really worth going out and getting a 64 bit version of Vista Ultimate.
Will I actually get a substantial increase in performance? Or is it just
going to annoy me trying to update drivers and stuff. I also use the below
machine for everything from simple web design to DVD creations to advanced
modern PC games ..

Can someone give me some advice?

Current Hardware setup ..

CPU : AMD® AthlonT 64 X2 - 4600+ (Socket AM2)
MotherBoard : Asus® Crosshair, Socket AM2, NVIDIA® nForce® 590 SLIT
Ram : CorsairT 2Gb PC6400 XMS2 DDR2 TwinX Matched Pair
Series
Video Card : Asus® Extreme EN7600GT/2DHT - GeForceT 7600GT GPU
w/256Mb -1.4ns DDR3 & PCI Express x16
Hard Drives: SATA Raid 1 - x2 160GB Maxtor® DiamondMax® 10 SATA2-300
7200RPM 8Mb OEM
SATA no raid 320GB Maxtor® DiamondMax® 10 SATA2-300
7200RPM 16Mb OEM
DVD: Sony 16X DVD-ROM Drive OEM, Black
Burner: LG GSA-H10L Lightscribe Dual Layer DVD±R/RW Drive (IDE)
OEM, Black

64-bit is only useful if you are going to have more than 4GB of RAM in
your system. Other than that, there isn't really any "performance"
difference between 64-bit and 32-bit for the most part.

I'd go with 32-bit because there is better driver support for 32-bit
than 64-bit.

 

[fErN]

My computer is built of the below components and I was just wondering if
it
is really worth going out and getting a 64 bit version of Vista Ultimate.
Will I actually get a substantial increase in performance? Or is it just
going to annoy me trying to update drivers and stuff. I also use the
below
machine for everything from simple web design to DVD creations to advanced
modern PC games ..

Can someone give me some advice?

Current Hardware setup ..

CPU : AMD® AthlonT 64 X2 - 4600+ (Socket AM2)
MotherBoard : Asus® Crosshair, Socket AM2, NVIDIA® nForce® 590 SLIT
Ram : CorsairT 2Gb PC6400 XMS2 DDR2 TwinX Matched Pair
Series
Video Card : Asus® Extreme EN7600GT/2DHT - GeForceT 7600GT GPU
w/256Mb -1.4ns DDR3 & PCI Express x16
Hard Drives: SATA Raid 1 - x2 160GB Maxtor® DiamondMax® 10 SATA2-300
7200RPM 8Mb OEM
SATA no raid 320GB Maxtor® DiamondMax® 10
SATA2-300
7200RPM 16Mb OEM
DVD: Sony 16X DVD-ROM Drive OEM, Black
Burner: LG GSA-H10L Lightscribe Dual Layer DVD±R/RW Drive
(IDE)
OEM, Black

Thats what I was thinking.. Its funny all these 64bit systems out there but
no real 64bit practical OS out there.
So whats the point?

 

[Mobilehavoc]

If you are using your system for serious video editing, photo editing,
running a database on it,etc. and if your motherboard can support the
additional RAM then Windows Vista x64 will come in handy.

In reality most people think, incorrectly, that 64-bit means it's
"better" or "faster" than 32-bit maybe because of bad marketting or
whatever...in reality it only really effects the amount of memory that
the CPU can address.

 

[Zim Babwe]

Another thing to consider. Do you have any 64 bit applications or are you
just running normal stuff? Some 32bit software may give you performance
issues on a 64bit system. Also drivers are in short supply on the 64bit
side.

I have the 32bit Vista and I run Office, Adobe Premiere, and a few other
applications are they run pretty fast. I only have 2 GB of memory and have
run with the task manager up and haven't hit the 2GB ceiling yet. (That I
know of)

 

[Mark Rae]

Can someone give me some advice?

1) Are there 64-bit drivers for *all* your hardware...?

2) Do you need to run specific 64-bit apps...?

3) Does your motherboard support more than 4Gb RAM, even if you don't
actually have more than that installed now...?

 

[fErN]

Thanks .. that makes perfect sense ..

If you are using your system for serious video editing, photo editing,
running a database on it,etc. and if your motherboard can support the
additional RAM then Windows Vista x64 will come in handy.

In reality most people think, incorrectly, that 64-bit means it's
"better" or "faster" than 32-bit maybe because of bad marketting or
whatever...in reality it only really effects the amount of memory that
the CPU can address.

 

[fErN]

1) Are there 64-bit drivers for *all* your hardware...?

I have not confirmed that yet ..

2) Do you need to run specific 64-bit apps...? No.

3) Does your motherboard support more than 4Gb RAM, even if you don't
actually have more than that installed now...? Board supports 8GB ..

Thanks for your replys I will be running x86.

 

[Mark Rae]

Thanks for your replys I will be running x86.

Of course, licensing permitting, there's nothing to stop you partitioning
your hard disk (or installing a second hard disk) and dual-booting as
necessary...

 

[LaRoux]

This is a sort of Chicken and the Egg thing. If nobody is using x64, then
manufacturers won't write x64 drivers, then nobody uses x64 due to lack of
drivers...

We have to start somewhere and I suspect that x64 will be mainstream within
a couple of years. I believe the early mainstream x64 applications you'll
see will be games (they will always push the envelope), multimedia - in
particular video editing, and databases, anywhere you need to move large
quantities of data around quickly. The early adopters who are willing to put
up with a little bit of aggravation now will help pave the way and force the
issue with the hardware manufacturers and software developers.

If you don't feel up to being an early adopter, you can best get ready to
make the switch later by making sure your mobo can handle x64 and at least
8GB of RAM.

 

[Mark Rae]

We have to start somewhere and I suspect that x64 will be mainstream
within a couple of years. I believe the early mainstream x64 applications
you'll see will be games (they will always push the envelope),
multimedia - in particular video editing, and databases, anywhere you need
to move large quantities of data around quickly. The early adopters who
are willing to put up with a little bit of aggravation now will help pave
the way and force the issue with the hardware manufacturers and software
developers.

IMO, mass uptake of 64-bit OS will begin the moment Microsoft release 64-bit
Office - not to far off, by all accounts...

 

[Guest]

I have not confirmed that yet ..

Thanks for your replys I will be running x86.

You'll just have to redo your system when you change you mind and go 64
I'm running 64 bit and find that most venders are making 64bit vista drivers.
The only drivers I am missing are for my old TV tuner card.

 

[Ed.]

If you don't get a 64-bit OS and get 32-bit and use get a 64 processor, does
all this apply for this too or do you actually get better performance and
speed using the 64 processor with the 32 bit OS?

Also, am I correct to assume that you can use a 64 processor with a 32 OS
and 32-bit applications?

Thanks,
Ed.

If you are using your system for serious video editing, photo editing,
running a database on it,etc. and if your motherboard can support the
additional RAM then Windows Vista x64 will come in handy.

In reality most people think, incorrectly, that 64-bit means it's
"better" or "faster" than 32-bit maybe because of bad marketting or
whatever...in reality it only really effects the amount of memory that
the CPU can address.

 

[LaRoux]

If you don't get a 64-bit OS and get 32-bit and use get a 64 processor,
does all this apply for this too or do you actually get better performance
and speed using the 64 processor with the 32 bit OS?

This is somewhat of a moot question since (virtually?) all processord from
Intel or AMD sold in the last year or so except for the very cheapest
(Celerons, Semprons) support x64. In other words, you'd be hard pressed to
find a purely 32-bit processor for sale.

The answer to your specific question would be no, there is no benefit to
using a 64-bit processor with a 32-bit OS.

Also, am I correct to assume that you can use a 64 processor with a 32 OS
and 32-bit applications?

Yes. Most computers sold today are exactly this.

 

[Ed.]

This is somewhat of a moot question since (virtually?) all processord from
Intel or AMD sold in the last year or so except for the very cheapest
(Celerons, Semprons) support x64. In other words, you'd be hard pressed to
find a purely 32-bit processor for sale.

The answer to your specific question would be no, there is no benefit to
using a 64-bit processor with a 32-bit OS.


Yes. Most computers sold today are exactly this.

Thank you for the reply and now I know. I wasn't sure and just wanted to be
sure.