Vista - 64-bit or 32-bit?

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Batman

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Topic # 13949 6-Jun-2007 21:27

Hi guys i have a dell vista upgrade vista home premium 32-bit.

After reading that you can actually order a 64-bit dvd for shiping charge if you bought a retail version, it kinds made me jealous ... so here goes - i have a 64-bit processor.

Will my (i dont think windows upgrade advisor advises on whether my pc can run 64-bit vista) hardware need to be 64-bit compatible too (or will they run in both)?

Will my PC work faster and look better in 64-bit? Or is it just the same in my situation (people say there arent programs to take advantage of that for the everyday user)? Then why in the world do i have a 64-bit processor ... arggh feel like such a waste :)

The problem is i'll have to reinstall! For the 3rd time!!! Arrgh ... might just save up and buy ultimate (comes with both dvds right?).

Swype on iOS is detrimental to accurate typing. Apologies in advance.

freitasm

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Reply # 73717 6-Jun-2007 23:04

Check your requirements. Windows Vista 64 bit won't run 16 bit code anymore. Also drivers for 64 bit must be signed, which restricts the availability. If your hardware manufacturer is not offering 64 bit signed drivers, don't even try.

Otherwise, it's pretty good. I am using it...

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Mutly

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Reply # 73874 7-Jun-2007 18:29

Also, do you need it? How many apps will you be running that are natively compiled for 64bit?

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Reply # 74136 9-Jun-2007 21:23

well i dont know, [edit: the RAM is meant to be accessed faster, ie at 64 bits vs 32-bits and it's meant to accelerate my hddvd video editing ventures ... correct?] but i am real curious so i am buying the ultimate retail pack to find out. just 2 very serious questions,

1) you can "triple boot" xp, vista-32 and vista-64 on 3 different partitions as i'm about to do ... correct?

2) if i am installing vista-64 in the 3rd partition and my machine is not compatible, no harm done to the 1st 2 booting partitions? the booting loader should be easily fixable? thanks

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Reply # 74138 9-Jun-2007 21:28

It would be a problem only if the CPU is not 64 bit, but looking your current signature it seems to be ok...

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Reply # 76489 1-Jul-2007 17:35

here then guys ... if you are wondering if you ever bother getting the 64-bit vista just because your cpu has a number 64 printed on it, here's my take on the entire matter

1) firstly for those looking to upgrade from XP to vista
    - if you have a very fast processor, serious graphics card, and at least 2gb of memory, i dare say the vista experience will be very significant. if you dont satisfy the 3 criteria, i find that XP is faster (like my 1.73gb centrino core-duo laptop with 1gb ram and built-in video). that said, if you do fulfill the 3 criteria (like my desktop), for some reason vista -32 ran everything faster (timed with stop watches on a few programs)

2) 64-bit vista?
    - i found that ultimate -64 vs home premium -32, ultimate -64 ran everything significantly slower than home premium -32, for some reason. i must say all those programs were 32-bit programs that i tested (as the only 64-bit programs i had/use was internet explorer and media player!).

speeds: home premium-32 >> ultimate-64 ~=  XP media centre

but i've decided to stick with ultimate-64 for that "because i can" feel-good factor. oh well :)

Swype on iOS is detrimental to accurate typing. Apologies in advance.