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Rank: PC Authority Labs
Brand Editor
Joined: 3/26/2008
Posts: 94
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We'll be getting interactive and answering some of your Big Questions with a series of articles. The first topic raised by the forum community is 64-bit (see thread here). Among the questions already raised by you are: - how stable is 64-bit vista?
- 64-bit XP vs 64-bit Vista
- driver support
- what software is available?
- is it all too much trouble?If you have questions you'd like answered about 64-bit, post your questions below. No promises we'll cover everything, but we'll do our best. Try not to just say "I want to know more about 64-bit". It's more helpful to everyone if you provide some detail about why you're asking. Maybe you've had a specific issue come up with your own PC, that you can share. Maybe you've read an interesting article (provide a link), and want to know more. The more discussion, and the more comments you give, the better. Post comments below... [UPDATE: The PC Authority 64-bit FAQ is now online here]. Thanks to everyone for your comments and input.Edited by william Maher: 11/9/2008 01:34:22 PMEdited by william maher: 26/9/2008 04:39:37 PM
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Rank: Technician
Joined: 7/3/2008
Posts: 214
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William Maher wrote:
- how stable is 64-bit vista?
- 64-bit XP vs 64-bit Vista
- driver support
- what software is available?
- is it all too much trouble?
 I think you may have asked all the big questions yourself there William Seriously though stability is a big thing for me...so how stable is it? Last time I had a look, it wasn't. But I have been around long enough to know that every OS grows and develops over time, XP wasn't any cakewalk when it came out either. Can't wait to hear your guys collective experiences.
Love is all fun and games until someone loses an eye or gets pregnant
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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 8/31/2008
Posts: 155
Location: Sydney
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I was thinking about this today at work..
How does Linux go on 64-bit systems? Are there any issues with installing it (ie drivers and such)? Are there any hitches that one should know when it comes to using it?
And by Linux I mean any of the flavours. Broad yes, because the only "Unix" OS I use is Solaris!
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Rank: Technician
Joined: 7/7/2008
Posts: 221
Location: Melbourne
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Hobo_Joe wrote:I was thinking about this today at work..
How does Linux go on 64-bit systems? Are there any issues with installing it (ie drivers and such)? Are there any hitches that one should know when it comes to using it?
And by Linux I mean any of the flavours. Broad yes, because the only "Unix" OS I use is Solaris! I've been using Ubuntu 64bit version as a dual boot OS on this my home PC (intel core2Duo) for months ...no issue for me so far 
...madness be my friend...
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Rank: I'm new around here
Joined: 8/5/2008
Posts: 17
Location: Sydney, Australia
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I take it that 64-bit Linux has better hardware support than 64-bit Windows?
ETMember of #!SUITS
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Rank: Moderator
Joined: 3/30/2008
Posts: 802
Location: Sydney, Australia
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edmund.tse wrote:I take it that 64-bit Linux has better hardware support than 64-bit Windows? Probably not, because of some companies who do not produce Linux drivers.
Vito Cassisi: Tech Blog
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Rank: Elite
Moderator
Joined: 7/11/2008
Posts: 1,177
Location: Mackay North QLD
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A few years ago I took up Microsoft's offer of a copy of XP 64 bit upgrade for XP Pro users ($20). the disk dully arrived but by then I'd read numerous horror stories about hardware support. The disk sits, to this day, in the cabinet at the back of my computer room. The machine I got it for is an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ on an Asus K8V-SEDX mobo with 1.5 Gig of ram and about 460 Gig in total of hard disk space. It also has a PCI HD TV tuner. Do you reckon it's time for a change? When next I reformat the boot partition should I bite the bullet? Or should I just copy the old image across? 
Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from. Ask questions. There's no such thing as a stupid one, just stupid answers. (mostly)
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Rank: Technician
Joined: 4/28/2008
Posts: 253
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I think my question is why is Driver support so horrible for certain items, namely wireless network cards and printers. It seems its impossible to switch to 64 bit without new gear. Is this just manufacturers being COMPLETELY lazy? I had a horror story trying to find a wireless lan card, or even a driver for my older one. In the end I had to go to a no name brand because a Vista 64 bit driver existed for that?? That just doesn't seem right to me.
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Rank: Troubleshooter
Joined: 5/29/2008
Posts: 40
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First thing that you always should do is check to see if there are drivers for your devices as you would with any new product.
I regularly build Windows XP 64 bit systems, I design the system to suit the OS that is to run. These days I rarely find issues obtaining drivers and if they are not available you can ask the device manufacturer to release one to suit.
I have found the XP 64 bit is more secure and less likely to be infected by virus etc over 32 bit XP and Vista 32 bit. This is due to most kiddie hackers have no idea when it comes to 64bit.
I would vote XP over Vista until I can see good cost effectiveness to change.
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Rank: PC Authority Labs
Brand Editor
Joined: 3/26/2008
Posts: 94
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Rank: Technician
Joined: 2/2/2009
Posts: 236
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Why is this still a sticky ?
Gone
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Rank: Elite
Moderator
Joined: 7/11/2008
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That's why it's call "sticky" Benji
Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from. Ask questions. There's no such thing as a stupid one, just stupid answers. (mostly)
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Rank: Technician
Joined: 7/2/2008
Posts: 290
Location: Sydney
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Hi All I have pondered the "64bit" question for ages and have yet to see any compelling reason to switch to it for what I do. As for drivers and hardware problems, I don't see that as an issue as I am a bit of a Linux fan and have learned to work around these problems. Other than security issues and tha ability to run large amounts of Ram, I see little advantage from my perspective. However, as an exercise/learning curve, it would be worthwhile to give it a shot. As I have only one 64bit capable computer at the moment, it looks as if a new project is in the wings. Cheers Malai5
THE FURTHER YOU GO, THE LESS YOU KNOW! www.mam3.com.au
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Rank: I'm new around here
Joined: 5/23/2009
Posts: 3
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im currently running both 32bit and 64bit vista and 64 bit did seem to give me a jump in performance when i installed it fresh over the 32bit on my desktop (and the 32bit was fresh too soo it was the same with regards to programs etc).
but im wondering is there the same or more improvement between 7 32bit and 7 64bit?
cheers mtarm1
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Rank: Technician
Joined: 2/2/2009
Posts: 236
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Go straight to 64bit and don't worry about 32bit.
Gone
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Rank: I'm new around here
Joined: 5/23/2009
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ok so is it the same difference between 32bit and 64 bit as vista or is it better, ie support, drivers ect?
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Rank: I'm new around here
Joined: 7/13/2009
Posts: 5
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ok here is where i am i bought a quad core and asked for 64bit vista to be instaled was told at the time drivers were not available shop stuch me with a 32 bit copy which im sure dont run so well on a 64bit machine. and man it is so unstable is this maybe becauce its 32 op system on a 64 machine. was going to go for 64bit vista but should i now wait for the new windows 7 anyways is windows 7 64 bit or is it same case schnerio with two versions. lol i have 8 gig ram macine uses of course 2.8gig arrr. help.
advice would be helpful. machine is quad2.4 gig 1terra hardrive all the fruit with hmm 8 gig of ram. runs like a dud oh yes a asus commando motherboard.
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Rank: Elite
Moderator
Joined: 7/11/2008
Posts: 1,177
Location: Mackay North QLD
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Gedday geeky, If your supplier sold you a system with 8 gig of ram and a 32 bit copy of vista I'd shop elsewhere in future and be sure to tell your mates to steer clear.
Why don't you download the 64 bit windows 7 run candidate and install it in your machine?
if you can't get win7 drivers for your stuff I'm told win 7 will happily run Vista drivers and it'll love your 8 gigs.
I've got the 32bit version running in a virtual machine on my old Athalon 3200+ system with 1 gig of ram allocated to it and it lives there quite happily.
If you like it you can buy the final release when MS lets it out.
Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.
Ask questions. There's no such thing as a stupid one, just stupid answers. (mostly)
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Rank: I'm new around here
Joined: 7/13/2009
Posts: 5
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here is another funny question is it bad for a 64bit system to run 32bit software if its a true 64bit machine does the 32 bit operating system have trouble accesing the say quad cpu,s
if your using 32bit whats going on with the part of the 64bit system thats wasted. i gues what im saying is does stuff get lost. or take longer to get to where its going whats the other side of a 64bit cpu doing while a 32 op is using only half. its like only having one lane open on the freeway ???
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