64 bit vs 32 bit

[[Jett]-Dsru]

So, during my long vacation I decided to load up Vista 64 bit. I am using my 10k raptor HD for 32 bit and all my games and stuff. I had my old 320 GB SATA drive collecting dust and I loaded Vista 64 on it to check it out, hence my 5.4 score because of HD.

I think Willow is running 64 bit but I have some questions. So what? Seems a little quicker but what does it buy me? I have not tried to load anything else but all current drivers and all seems well, going to try and run 3D Mark Vantage and see if better score, but what does a 64 bit OS buy me?

Anybody?

[[Jett]-Willow]

Well with 64bit you can use and utilize 4gb+ of ram. Vista has a feature that is called superfetch. It loads up constantly used applications in to your extra memory allowing you faster access times. Also you can run 64 bit applications, not sure if this matters to your needs or not just stating the obvious.

However if you use older hardware And drivers you might run into compatibility problems so beware. Even newer games have 64 bit compatibility issues, while others will have native 64 bit clients.

I have 64 and I have games crashing and the like some of the time, but having the 4gb of ram mAkes up for the occasional problems.

[[Jett]-rush2049]

Yea, if you didn't notice the 4 GB limit on ram includes the caches on the processor and the ram on the video cards, so if it says you have 4 GB now I wonder what it said while inder 32 bit, especially with those video cards I know you have....

I have been running 64 bit on my desktop for a while now, and it hasn't BSD'd me yet, and a lot of things crash a lot more gracefully, I feel like the drivers for 64 bit are a bit more well done. Though that is also a limitation, all drivers being installed must be microsoft approved, or whatever the qualification is. (I think it is they must be digitally signed).

If you want to take advantage of the added processor precision, you need to be running 64 bit software, and sadley vista 64 bit defaults to 32 bit versions of IE and WMP, look online for how to switch the defaults, I suggest switching WMP and not IE at the moment, because a lot of websites are not written for 64 bit code yet (as well as plugins).

And for 64 bit players you need 64 bit codecs, and I personally suggest the k lite mega pack, and the k lite 64 bit pack. That will play anything you want or need 32 and 64 bit if you instal both.


I am happy with 64 bit and can't wait to see what windows 7 will be like.

[[Jett]-RollingRock]

depending on how some things are coded 64 bit can hurt or help you. if an application is coded specifically for 64 bit then it should run faster than an equivalent 32 bit. reason being is on every CPU cycle you're getting 64 bits of information through the processor versus 32.

right now for the gamer the biggest advantage as willow said is more RAM.