What is the advantage of 64-bit Vista over 32-bit Vista?

Whappers · 20 Jan 2008 at 21:19

Well, not much to say, as title really. I'm going to be building a new rig over the summer and was just wondering what the difference between the two really is? Prize for first informative correct answer!

dbmzk1 · 20 Jan 2008 at 22:30

It can fully use 4GB ram, which is quickly becoming the norm, especially with memory prices currently being stupidly low. It is faster and more stable. It makes use of your fancy 64-bit processor. x64 sounds better than x86. That's all I can think of right now

This question has been asked time and time again here and pretty much everywhere else. The answer is always the same. Unless you have a specific need to remain 32-bit then go for 64.

Burnsy2023 · 20 Jan 2008 at 22:34

The vB search function is a wonderful thing:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17821495

And have a search for other posts by NathanE

Burnsy

Glaucus · 20 Jan 2008 at 22:35

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10775562&postcount=38

v0n · 21 Jan 2008 at 01:29

There is a benchmark project led by FatRakoon on this forum, specifically created to once and for all show advantages and disadvantages between 32bit and 64bit versions of Vista and XP, and hopefully at some point in the future, we'll have definite answer, which of the current OSes is the one to go for. Project's gone a little stale as it's end of tax year for everyone etc, but watch this space...

Fire Wizard · 21 Jan 2008 at 14:51

Hello v0n, sorry but I disagree with you their. Regardless of the results, which only really tells half the story anyway, If you have no compelling reason to stay on a 32-bit platform and you do not know off any compatibility problems that you will have moving to 64-bit, then their is no reason to not move to tell you the truth. I am honestly not quite sure why you are edging people to stay on 32-bit, It has already been explained that 64-bit is generally faster, much more stable and secure.

Now I understand that applications, specifically games may run slightly faster under a 32-bit operating system than they would with a 64-bit operating system. However, the difference isn't huge and certainly not to the extent that if you were going to buy a 64-bit operating system then games would be effectively unplayable compared to a 32-bit operating system.

Hello Whappers, as Burnsy2023 and AcidHell2 have already pointed out to you, have a read through some of the posts that NathanE has written. You may also be interested in the link here, which really summarizes the whole debate about 64-bit.

v0n · 21 Jan 2008 at 15:09

Fire Wizard said:
If you have no compelling reason to stay on a 32-bit platform and you do not know off any compatibility problems that you will have moving to 64-bit, then their is no reason to not move to tell you the truth.

That's not what OP asked - the question was "what is the advantage of 64bit Vista over 32bit Vista".

I am honestly not quite sure why you are edging people to stay on 32-bit, It has already been explained that 64-bit is generally faster, much more stable and secure.

And that's exactly what the benchmark will establish. Is 64bit Vista faster that 32bit Vista. I don't see a problem there.

Now I understand that applications, specifically games may run slightly faster under a 32-bit operating system than they would with a 64-bit operating system. However, the difference isn't huge and certainly not to the extent that if you were going to buy a 64-bit operating system then games would be effectively unplayable compared to a 32-bit operating system.

But that's not really any advantage, is it? The OP asked for advantages.

NathanE · 21 Jan 2008 at 15:57

I think we all know already that the benchmark results will be a much of a muchness. It will just be a case of +/- 10% here and there. With some benchies that will indicate 64-bit as being significantly faster (e.g. 20-50% type figures).

v0n · 21 Jan 2008 at 16:08

Let's hope it will be as clear as you speculate it to be.

Fire Wizard · 21 Jan 2008 at 16:19

v0n said:
That's not what OP asked - the question was "what is the advantage of 64bit Vista over 32bit Vista".

Hello v0n, the comment that I wrote there was just more of a general comment and wasn't specifically aimed at Whappers. I also answered Whappers question via the article that I linked too.

v0n said:
And that's exactly what the benchmark will establish. Is 64bit Vista faster that 32bit Vista. I don't see a problem there.

In my opinion, these benchmarks aren't really going to establish an awful lot that we don't already know. Some applications will run faster on the 32-bit platform and vice versa. However, 64-bit is more secure and stable.

v0n said:
But that's not really any advantage, is it? The OP asked for advantages.

Indeed he did and that's why I linked to the article that I did. Now that statement you quoted me on, I said that becuase, you have said before that applicatins run slower on a 64-bit platform than they do when using a 32-bit platform. However, if the performance loss is minimal, then I don't see the problem moving to 64-bit.

I do apologize for confusing the matter; I am having a hard time explaining myself.