Vista 32 or 64 bit edition?

[KimB]

Right, so the only 32-bit software that you cannot run on a 64-bit OS is kernel-level stuff. This includes drivers and CD writing software, for example.

It's rather unfortunate, actually: due to the fact that Windows has for all time allowed administrator access to be the default, some software developers have had no qualms about including kernel-mode stuff where it really shouldn't be. So unless Windows Vista has some kernel-mode emulation for Windows XP and previous, there's always the possibility that some 32-bit software just won't work.

But any software developed for Windows Vista 32-bit should work great on Windows Vista 64-bit.

 

[HellasVagabond]

Driver support for the x64 version of windows xp has been great lately so i dont think that Vista will have that issue.

 

[Cartoon Corpse]

anyone running games on xp64? is there a perf cost of running 32bit games on 64bit rig? just the same? or better?

i opted for xp32 cause of poor driver support on my new rig, but i may reconsider if i had a reason to other than farcry 64bit patch.

 

[HellasVagabond]

In generall windows x64 are faster as an OS than the 32bit version however some games do run worse on x64 systems but some run better...
However due to excellent driver support in the past 2-3 months id say that whoever has an 64bit CPU should make that change.

 

[KimB]

Excellent driver support from who? Because I still see my TV card as lacking 64-bit drivers on their website.

 

[HellasVagabond]

I dont own a TV card and im sure that most people wont decide not to put 64bit windows due to 1 driver that they dont have.

 

[KimB]

I dont own a TV card and im sure that most people wont decide not to put 64bit windows due to 1 driver that they dont have.

Er, if it's something they use often they may.

 

[Rodéric]

In generall windows x64 are faster as an OS than the 32bit version however some games do run worse on x64 systems but some run better...
However due to excellent driver support in the past 2-3 months id say that whoever has an 64bit CPU should make that change.

You're incredibely lucky, no 32bit game runs faster on WinXPx64 here...
(It's a good time slower)

 

[SugarCoat]

seeing the question of 64 or 32 still thriving. I think everyone needs to take into account that by the time Vista is in mid-life 64 bit programs should be well under way to becoming common place. Its only good business to include both. I think many will find themselves installing 64-bit years later which is fine. The general user will problably find themselves doing this. When you're talking about something like this, its not a question of if it will be accepted or become common but a question of when.

 

[Moloch]

I am posting from the 32 bit build of beta 2.
I'm diggin the new UI and flip3d etc.
I'm not digging how I have to relearn where things are and how my trillian won't install
It's fsking cool how alt tab/ flip3d is shown in real time so like videos continue playing.

 

[Fox5]

UT2k4 showed us there can be significant speedups from running 64-bit code in a game. Many other apps also like the extra on-chip registers in 64-bit mode.

I thought only the load times were significantly sped up, and that was only due to that uncompressing / compressing data goes a lot faster with 64 bit variables instead of 32 bit variables.

There is a ~20% performance boost for FP intensive code on AMD 64-bit processors (from the benches I've seen so far, Intel hasn't shown the same improvement).

What kind of programs would those be? If Intel's Conroe doesn't get a similar boost, looks like AMD has their answer to Conroe... a new OS!

 

[Moloch]

I thought only the load times were significantly sped up, and that was only due to that uncompressing / compressing data goes a lot faster with 64 bit variables instead of 32 bit variables.



What kind of programs would those be? If Intel's Conroe doesn't get a similar boost, looks like AMD has their answer to Conroe... a new OS!

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1665&page=6

Intel gets performances boosts on the p4 but there are some instance where intel doesn't get a big as a performance improvement as amd.

 

[suryad]

For 64 bit naysayers here you go http://www.planetx64.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=49

 

[KimB]

For 64 bit naysayers here you go http://www.planetx64.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=49

Well, read the last page. It looks to me like they were comparing a single 3GHz P4 system to a dual Opteron 850 system (2.4GHz). So it doesn't sound like it was a good test of 32-bit vs. 64-bit.

 

[suryad]

http://www.planetx64.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=49&limit=1&limitstart=4

Hope that helps.

 

[KimB]

What about it?

 

[suryad]

Well just that they do have a dual proc 32 bit rig.

Machine Type Render Time
Delta
Original 32-bit worksation1
12.5 hrs
-
Current 32-bit workstation2
7 hrs
78.5% performance increase

64-bit SMP workstation (Jose's rig)
0.92 hrs
1,258.7% performance increase

64-bit quad core workstation (Carlos' rig)
0.5375 hrs
2,225.6% performance increase


1) The original 32-bit machine used for the Mini Cooper Robot had the following specs (as best as Jose can remember):


Dual Athlon MP 2000+
4GB RAM
GeForce4 Video
500GB HD

2) Jose's current 32-bit workstation:

P4 3.02 Ghz (single CPU)
Intel 875p Chipset from MSI motherboard
2 GB Ram
500Gb HD Sata drives
Nvidia Geforce Ultra 6800

 

[KimB]

Sure, but if the Opteron servers were so much vastly faster than the 32-bit systems, the speed improvements from going 64-bit are not apparent.

 

[pjbliverpool]

I heard on another forum that you could simply install 32bit drivers on Vista 64bit and use it as a 32bit operating system (until 64bit drivers mature at which time you would replace them).

Can I take it that is rubbish?

 

[AlexV]

Yes.