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Thread: do i need a 64bit operating system for my amdx64?

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    Smile do i need a 64bit operating system for my amdx64?

    Hi,
    I'm trying to sort out an operating system for the pc that i have handed down to my girlfriend. It is a Foxconn motherboard with an AMDx64 3000+ cpu. I'm considering either vista basic oem or xp pro oem, my main question is whether i should also consider using a 64 bit operating system. I know a little about pc's (having built my own) but have little understanding of the differences/advantages/disadvantages of a 64bit OS. any clues????
    Cheers!
    Tom

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    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    You don't NEED to, but there's no reason not to.

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    64bit is the future of OS's so go with the flow. If you go with vista, be prepared for driver issues... I'm not saying there will be, just maybe On that rig tho i'd go XP64 rather than Vista64 as Vista's a memory & CPU cycle hungry beast and driver support will mostly be better.
    [
    Quote Originally Posted by Blitzen
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    ...so it doesn't affect her use of software at all? are there any differences?

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    Also, know where i'd get a cheap oem of xp64?

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    scan ?

    I've been running xp64bit for over a year now, no issues. driver support is fine.
    SmoothNuts!~yaman_an@*.dsl.pipex.com > change my rating to exceptional tbh

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    Quote Originally Posted by tommason View Post
    ...so it doesn't affect her use of software at all? are there any differences?
    64-bit windows can run 64-bit apps

    64-bit windows only works with 64-bit drivers

    64-bit windows cannot run 16-bit apps (don't laugh, many installers use 16-bit portions of code)

    64-bit applications on 64-bit windows can access more than 2gib of ram each

    64-bit windows xp isn't windows xp, it's windows server 2003 (can cause issues for apps like some games or free antivirus apps that explicitly don't work on server 2k3)

    worth noting that i removed my 64-bit windows partition as the benefits didn't outweigh the problems (no support for a lot of my older games)

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    so:
    *if an application is 64bit it'll run faster on my 64bit xp (how many apps are 64bit?)
    *i'll need different drivers
    *some things don't work on xp64
    ..this leads me to think i may as well just get xp32 if it's cheaper

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    If you've got a lot of old legacy stuff & games, then yes, stick with XP32bit.

    Or dual boot!
    [
    Quote Originally Posted by Blitzen
    When I say go, both walk in the opposite direction for 10 paces, draw handbags, then bitch-slap each other!

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    Going purely on the last sentence of your first post, 64-bit will provide you with very little benefit and if it is for your girlfriend who I presume knows very little about PCs because your building it for her and from our own admission you know a "little" then I would say stick to 32-bit, it isn't worth the hassle going 64-bit. 64-Bit will only allow you to access more memory (where 3-4Gig is the limit on a 32-bit system) and thats it. By being able to access more memory you can get better performance in some specialized applications but other than that there is no point in it right now and I doubt your girlfriend will need more than 3Gig at this moment in time. The small benefits of moving to 64-bit, do not at this moment in time out weigh the potential issues.
    Last edited by Dorza; 24-07-2007 at 12:28 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by tommason View Post
    so:
    *if an application is 64bit it'll run faster on my 64bit xp (how many apps are 64bit?)
    A huge number of app's are just recompiled for 64bit, and not actually optimised to take advantage of it. So just because its 64bit doesn't make it faster.
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

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    Quote Originally Posted by tommason View Post
    so:
    *if an application is 64bit it'll run faster on my 64bit xp (how many apps are 64bit?)
    *i'll need different drivers
    *some things don't work on xp64
    ..this leads me to think i may as well just get xp32 if it's cheaper
    If an application is 64bit it'll *ONLY* run on 64bit XP/vista.
    More and more driver packs are being bundled with the 64bit and 32bit drivers together.
    And only cheap, unmaintained hardware and crap software wont run on 64bit.

    XP32 is cheaper because it's dead as a dodo.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
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    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    A huge number of app's are just recompiled for 64bit, and not actually optimised to take advantage of it. So just because its 64bit doesn't make it faster.
    A proper compiler will make automatic optimisations for x86_64 and open up more registers. So yes, 64bit code should be faster/more efficient just by recompiling.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dorza View Post
    Going purely on the last sentence of your first post, 64-bit will provide you with very little benefit and if it is for your girlfriend who I presume knows very little about PCs because your building it for her and from our own admission you know a "little" then I would say stick to 32-bit, it isn't worth the hassle going 64-bit. 64-Bit will only allow you to access more memory (where 3-4Gig is the limit on a 32-bit system) and thats it. By being able to access more memory you can get better performance in some specialized applications but other than that there is no point in it right now and I doubt your girlfriend will need more than 3Gig at this moment in time. The small benefits of moving to 64-bit, do not at this moment in time out weigh the potential issues.
    Thanks everyone, I think Dorza's hit it on the head, I'll plump for the 32!

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    There's a LOT more to x86_64 than just being able to access more memory, there's far more registers available, and a bunch of extra instructions that's native to the architecture and compilers targeted at it.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

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    Quote Originally Posted by aidanjt View Post
    A proper compiler will make automatic optimisations for x86_64 and open up more registers. So yes, 64bit code should be faster/more efficient just by recompiling.
    Good point.
    I know this wasn't the case a few years back when I was doing a bit of recompiling of app's, but its not my primary line of work so don't keep up with all the latest changes
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

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