64-bit or 32-bit Vista?

Decisions, decisions...

No seriously, I've run 64-bit Vista before and didn't see much of a speed improvement but I was pretty stoked to be running "the cool OS." Alas, I found an incompatibility with a must-have app so I reinstalled the 32-bit version. But now I'm getting the urge again!

Is anyone else out there running, or trying to run 64-bit Vista? If so, what's been your experience? See any speed improvements? Why are you running it? I'm just curious.

 

I use 32 bit even because of 64 bit driver problems.

 

I think we should keep up with 32-bit for now. Based on my need, I use Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 and Photoshop CS2, which is only compatible with 32-bit vista only. Maple and Mathematica also run flawlessly in 32-bit OS.

I think if you don't use those mentioned apps, and only use productivity or security softwares, then you will be fine with 64-bit.

The reason you don't see any improvement is those apps are not optimized for 64-bit vista. From what I've read from Intel reference book (ordered from Intel), 64-bit CPU running 32-bit apps will lose a cycle to push the signals from one end to the other of the CPU. Imagine you have to use binary number, and how convenience (paper saving, easier to remember, fast processing) if you manipulate decimal number in your head.

 

Unless we start using 64-bit, Ms and other software companies will not start making such programs. Very unfortunate, I think this branch of technology is being pushed down on purpose and the multi-core technology is getting undeserved credit (some even call it "acknowledgement of defeat")

 

There's really not a lot of point to using Windows x64 right now. Very few apps really can make use of a 64-bit OS, although some games are actually starting to be 64-bit "enhanced," which is kind of cool. Unless you're using some really high end ray tracing app or something, very few professional apps are being written as 64-bit yet, which is too bad. The audio app Sonar is a good example of an app making good use of 64-bit OS's, but that's one of the few. Even the new Adobe CS3 suite of programs are all 32-bit, sadly, though if you have more than 4 GB RAM on a 64-bit OS, they are designed to use the extra memory instead of your hard disk for scratch space.

I do agree with Vassil, though, that its worth using Vista x64 just to increase the percentage of users on the platform, hopefully convincing developers to migrate their apps to 64-bit more rapidly -- although I disagree about multi-core getting too much credit, but that's another argument altogether.

Also, if the rumors of "Windows 7" being 64-bit only are true (it makes sense for MS to make Vista the last 32-bit OS), then the future is coming, and the sooner we can get developers and OEM's on board, the better.

So, I advocate Vista x64, though not for any tangible performace benefit now. But if you have a needed app or have hardware that isn't compatible with the 64-bit OS, then why cause yourself the grief? Stay with 32-bit until Vista x64 can do everything you need it to.

 

I ran 64-bit vista on my ZV6000 and it ran like a charm. memory scores are instantly higher because the AMD64 extensions turn on and you start accessing the memory the way it was meant to be. Only driver support lacking was the fax modem (who cares).

 

I am running 32bit but not by choice. I haven't got my hands on the 64bit yet

 

I've been running 64-bit Vista for about two months now on my desktop, and it hasn't had any problems.

All 32-bit programs run fine, just like my 64-bit programs.

Also, I haven't had any driver problems at all.