Vista Forums - View Single Post - 64-bit: More than just the RAM

**Adrian Wainer** · 08-21-2008

Quote:

Forumite 1: "Hi, I am building a new system and I wanted to know what your thoughts were on whether I should use 64-bit or 32-bit Vista? I've heard varying things around the net regarding compatibility, and was hoping someone could help."
Forumite 2: "Hi! I just read your post. You should definitely go with the 32-bit version. There's tons of compatibility problems with 64b (Just look at XP-64), and it's going to die a long, drawn-out death. Besides, the only actual difference between them is that 64-bit can make proper use of 4GB of RAM."
Forumite 1: "Oh, ok! Thanks!"

IMHO What the author of the article has done, has been to set up a straw man and then decide to knock him down. The article itself is excellent but the introduction does not make sense to me in that the forums I have seen tend to give straight answers and certainly would not come out with rubbish like that. Re the comment: "and it's going to die a long, drawn-out death." nobody who knows anything about computers is going to come out with something like that. Personally I tend to be conservative if I find myself in the position of giveing advice, in that if people want to take a risk that's fine but I would not feel comfortable suggesting they do so, that said if somebody is going to retain access to Windows XP in the 32 bit version I allways suggest they go for Vista 64 if they are interested to do so, since the only issue is that one might not be able to obtain a driver for a particular critical peripheral or that a criticial software application might have a problem. As for Windows XP 64, I have a very high regard for that software, and MS deserve praise for the fact that you get the reliability of a server system since it is based on server 2003, the ease of use of Windows XP since it it is front ended with a Windows XP Professional user interface and the ability to run both 32 bit and 64 bit software on a single system. Unfortunatly an issue with Windows XP 64 is that, with the release of Vista the installed base of Windows XP 64 machines will not increase and whilst manufacturers are going to write drivers for Vista 64 for new peripherals and older peripherals still in production, they may not feel the installed base of Windows XP 64 machines warrants the production of drivers to support them.

Best and Warm Regards
Adrian Wainer

08-21-2008	#41 (permalink)
Adrian Wainer Vista 64 ultimate, Windows XP 32 Professional, Windows XP 64 Professional 124 posts	Re: 64-bit: More than just the RAM Quote: Forumite 1: "Hi, I am building a new system and I wanted to know what your thoughts were on whether I should use 64-bit or 32-bit Vista? I've heard varying things around the net regarding compatibility, and was hoping someone could help." Forumite 2: "Hi! I just read your post. You should definitely go with the 32-bit version. There's tons of compatibility problems with 64b (Just look at XP-64), and it's going to die a long, drawn-out death. Besides, the only actual difference between them is that 64-bit can make proper use of 4GB of RAM." Forumite 1: "Oh, ok! Thanks!" IMHO What the author of the article has done, has been to set up a straw man and then decide to knock him down. The article itself is excellent but the introduction does not make sense to me in that the forums I have seen tend to give straight answers and certainly would not come out with rubbish like that. Re the comment: "and it's going to die a long, drawn-out death." nobody who knows anything about computers is going to come out with something like that. Personally I tend to be conservative if I find myself in the position of giveing advice, in that if people want to take a risk that's fine but I would not feel comfortable suggesting they do so, that said if somebody is going to retain access to Windows XP in the 32 bit version I allways suggest they go for Vista 64 if they are interested to do so, since the only issue is that one might not be able to obtain a driver for a particular critical peripheral or that a criticial software application might have a problem. As for Windows XP 64, I have a very high regard for that software, and MS deserve praise for the fact that you get the reliability of a server system since it is based on server 2003, the ease of use of Windows XP since it it is front ended with a Windows XP Professional user interface and the ability to run both 32 bit and 64 bit software on a single system. Unfortunatly an issue with Windows XP 64 is that, with the release of Vista the installed base of Windows XP 64 machines will not increase and whilst manufacturers are going to write drivers for Vista 64 for new peripherals and older peripherals still in production, they may not feel the installed base of Windows XP 64 machines warrants the production of drivers to support them. Best and Warm Regards Adrian Wainer Last edited by Adrian Wainer; 08-21-2008 at 03:58 PM..
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