Vista - Vista 64bit over 32bit

Currently have a pc with oem vista ultimate 32bit. I have a retail version of vista ultimate and trying to decide what version of vista (64bit or 32bit) to install on a totally new (just built) computer. Very pleased with performance of my vista 32bit computer but the new one is going to be my toy. Any suggestions or opinions are appreciated. Is there any reason I wouldn't be able to install vista 32bit now and then later install 64bit later on down the road (like when it has more compatibility with programs)?

Thanks in advance for input.

"Jude Alvia" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:a56c1ae7d5c9b8b4d127095e3f54cc12@xxxxxx-gateway.com...Personally I have been running x64 Vista for over 18 months now with no app
or driver compatibility issues.
If you have a need for large memory model computing or running x64
applications and you can get all the drivers for your hardware then do it
now.
Obviously if you want to switch from x86 (32-bit) to x64 Vista at a later
date you will have to do a complete reinstall (there is no upgrade path).

--

Mike Brannigan

Agree with Mike - I am using x64 without issues.

If you wish to stay with 32bit - you can get the 64bit disk from microsoft for a nominal fee ( $10 ) ,you don't have to buy another license to replace the 32bit - as Mike says it would have to be a clean reinstall.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...a/default.mspx

SIW2

The table in this article is well done and may be of assistance:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/0...windows-vista/

Notice there are no speed increases by switching to x64.
Additionally, if you have less than 4GB RAM and switch to x64, you _may_
actually experience a performance degradation.


"Jude Alvia" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:a56c1ae7d5c9b8b4d127095e3f54cc12@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

True; 32 bit applications do not run faster on Vista 64 and there are very
few 64 bit applications available now. However,64 bit applications will run
faster as pointed out in the following link and since the 64 bit OS itself
is a 64 bit application the operating system itself runs faster.

http://64-bit-computers.com/windows-...benchmark.html

"Mark H" <jmhonzell@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OqJHem2DJHA.1184@xxxxxx

Not trying to start a x64/x86 war.
The details on speed/performance get fuzzy fast depending on the actual
setup.

32-bit applications must be emulated via WOW64 to run in 64-bit. This is an
extra step and causes a slight reduction in performance for those
applications compared to running them directly on a 32-bit OS.

64-bit applications require between 20% to 40% more "space" to run, even
though they execute at normal speed. This additional space requirement means
more paging occurs for the same 32-bit application on a 32-bit OS and a drop
in performance occurs.

That said, neither effect may be seen by some applications since they fit in
the available memory window, or are small enough that emulation is
unnoticed.

I ran x64 on 4GB for a year and did not "sense" a performance issue, but
when I added an additional 4GB, I definately could tell the difference in
response of my 64-bit applications. Most likely the paging issue went away.



"Curious >" <<spammenot@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eWBPGx2DJHA.1184@xxxxxxrunhttp://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/0...windows-vista/Very

Vista Ultimate comes with both disks. There is no additional $10 charge.
I also agree with Mike and the only thing I miss is the fingerprint reader
which isn't available in 64-bit.

"SIW2" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:05ec50fced1c8ca868abda8e144020e8@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Vista Ultimate comes with both discs - at that price, I should hope so.

SIW2

Poster owns it, so I guess it was worth it to them and they don't have to
spend the extra money or time to get it :-)

"SIW2" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:c6c3961601a3b638088b5a3d45c0d606@xxxxxx-gateway.com...