Windows Vista 32-bit vs. 64-bit

Would it be a good choice to get a laptop with Vista 64-bit as that would be future proofing myself? I haven't been following closely lately so I don't know what kind of things are compatible with 64-bit yet.

 

Not again - search the forum.
You can, you don't have too.

Most things work with 64Bit - some specialist applications don't work though.

 

Switched yesterday from 32bit to 64bit. I dont see any difference in games/applications/3dmark score/benchmarks.

So all down to you.

 

search the forum. there has been so many threads on this.

heck even google the net, there's tons of write ups on this.

 

answer =
yes if the laptop has more than 3gb of ram.
There is a performance difference between 32bit and 64bit versions of vista, however the difference is <5%. But there is no real disadvantage to 64bit vista... as it has very good driver and software compatibility go for it, but don't limit your laptop choices because you think you need it.

 

microsoft one note has a function called print to one note that doesnt work with vista 64. it allows you to import and edit a pdf file(not only pdfs). vista64 doesn't let you do that

 

Also, software will need to be written specifically for 64-bit to take full advantage of the performance gains of a 64-bit o/s.

 

If you have 4GB of RAM, go for it. If you don't have 4GB, don't reinstall your OS except if you're starting from an empty PC.

 

Even if you have 4GB it may not be worthwile as 1GB can/is used by the graphics card to supplement its onboard memory.

 

Other benefits of 64-bit are the inherent security features as well as the ability to 'unlock' the full potential in power of multicore processors which are 64-bit.

 

Inherent security features mean what?

Do you mean fewer people write viruses for 64 Bit or what?

 

hyper memory, or turbo memory... which ever one you're talking about, is more of a gimmick than anything else... that's not a good reason for sticking with 32bit.

 

Here's an interesting article that you can peruse for more information about 64-bit computing:

http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2007/10/16/64-bit_more_than_just_the_ram/1

 

I'm not sure about "inherent" security features... but there are some security features in 64-bit Vista that are not in 32-bit Vista.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securi...ew_to_Windows_Vista#x86-64_-specific_features

Also... yeah, malware-creators don't usually have 64-bit in mind, since most people aren't using it yet... so I would expect that some malware doesn't work on 64-bit... mainly anything that gets into the kernel and/or operates at a low level.

 

Perhaps "inherent" is the wrong word to use but yeah, this is what I was pertaining to.

 

Are most mainstream games compatible with 64 bit Windows? Such as Source games?

 

I have had zero problems playing 'mainstream' games, including really old ones such as the classic Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, in the 64-bit environment.

 

I have read when surfing the internet, that the installer for the game is 16-bit. Someone reported being unable to install it under 64-bit OS. However, the game appears to be 32-bit.
Were you able to install it under 64-bit OS? Alternative is to just copy the folder from other 32-bit OS computer, as SMAC needs no registry entries.
Thanks!

 

64 bit does not have inherent security features. 64 bit capable processors have inherent security features. If the OS is a 64 bit OS, then these security features are enabled. This is because of the way commands are now processed that allows the built in security to work without hindering system performance.

Hope this helps.

 

this is true for many older games.
games are 32 bit, can be run in 64bit.
but the installer is 16bit and fails in a 64bit env.

 

I won't convert to Vista 64-bit until the vpn client I use for work is licensed to my employer in 64-bit form.