The ole Vista 32 bit vs 64 bit debate....

I've tried to search the forums here, but how does Vista 32 vs 64 compare specifically on a 14" T61p?

I'm in the process of buying a new Lenovo currently and I think I'm going to purchase Vista Home Premium 32. However, I'd like to do the clean install using the great guide posted here and I'm not sure if I'd like to get the 32 Anytime upgrade dvd or the 64 bit version to upgrade to....


So basically all I've heard is that the 64 bit version will allow you to recognize 4 gigs of RAM....is there any other significant differences in the plus or minus fields?

Also, is there a huge difference between 3 gigs of ram and 4 gigs of ram in Vista?

Thanks,
Chris

 

nope, vista really just needs 2GB to run well

the minus with Vista64 is that you will need to run signed drivers or else you have to press F8 and disable signed driver requirement.

This means that programs like RMClock cannot be run on Vista64

For the average user, it doesnt make a difference if you use either version

I have run vista on both my laptop with 2gb and desktop with 4gb and i cant find a difference in performance

 

Those who say there is no difference between 2 GB and 4 GB are wrong. I've used both windows 32 bit and 64 bit, and I've used both 2 GB and 4 GB of RAM. When I use 4 GB, opening programs is much quicker and what not. Having the extra memory really does help. And as for the 64 bit operating system, there are some extras, like windows dreamscene, which is kinda cool, but I haven't noticed a whooole lot of difference, but it is cool having vista ultimate

 

The general rule is that if you have more than 3GB of RAM, go with 64-bit, otherwise stick with 32-bit for better software compatibility.

 

what software can you run on 64bit that you can't run on 32bit?

 

can u switch between 32 bit and 62bit?

 

No, they are two completely separate Operating Systems.

 

This is basically what MS was banking on. People want its because it says Ultimate

 

EXACTLY!
i ordered my laptop with the default 1GB and then i immediately ordered a 2x2GB set from newegg.

in my desktop i have 4GB and i very much so notice a difference.
and a 64bit OS is also snappier. i have been usine a 64bit OS for almost 3 years now with virtually no issues. those who keep complaining about driver and software issues are full of it. it is very rare, especially in these days, to find a program that wont work in a 64bit OS.

 

"what software can you run on 64bit that you can't run on 32bit?"

Any software that requires a large address space. It's difficult to develop a contiguous address space much larger than 800 mb on 32 bit windows.

Also there is about a 10 percent average performance gain in 64 bit mode.

 

Running 64-bit on my computer and runs fine and dandy...

 

Ubuntu 64-Bit is free : )
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

 

And it's still not as easy to use as Windows. With Windows the cmd prompt can be a great unknown, with any Linux based distribution (UNIX in general) the terminal must be your friend.

 

"Ubuntu 64-Bit is free : )"

Is fatally flawed. It's unix based.

 

Now if anyone can point me to a Cisco VPN client that supports 64bit? And not the new client for ASAs... Not to thread jack.

I noticed 64bit as being a bit snappier as said above. No concrete numbers to back it up however.

 

http://64-bit-computers.com/windows-vista-32-bit-vs-64-bit-benchmark.html

 

I have noticed that mine is faster under 64-bit as well, and everything I have thrown at it is more stable than 32-bit when it came out this time last year and no program compatibility probs here.

 

There is some info regarding VPN clients here.

 

Thanks Fade to Black. I knew of the Anyconnect which supports 64bit, but our pix hasn't been updated to an IOS that supports it. So I'm still looking at the IPsec based client.

 

32-bit and 64-bit look the same in appearance. I general I find that just about everyone that has actually used 64-bit says that it is "snappier" and "more stable".

One thing you can do on 64-bit that you can't do on 32-bit is run a native 64-bit application. You can, however, run almost all 32-bit applications on the 64-bit OS.

Sure I know there aren't that many native 64-bit applications, but they are coming. Like it or not, 64-bit will take over eventually. Just like when Windows 3.0 and 3.1 were 16-bit operating systems. Then came Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000 that would run 16-bit or 32-bit. With Windows XP it became hit or miss as to whether or not 16-bit applications would work. 16-bit has been virtually phased out.

I think the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit will be quicker. I've even heard that the next Windows OS might be available in 64-bit version only.

 

Can you upgrade from 32 to 64?

 

what do you mean by "upgrade?"

 

To move from 32 bit OS to 64 bit OS you'll need to reformat.

 

I'm running 64-bit and love it.

 

Can someone please help me decipher which Vistas are 32 bit and which are 64 bit? Microsoft's website really hides these facts. I was misled by Dell representatives into thinking that 64 bit compatible Vista means 64 bit...which it absolutely does NOT. I ordered M1330 laptop with 64bit T9300/2.5G/6M L2 Cashe, then I discover the Vista Home Premium is 32 bit. Boy talk about a lobotomy...what a waste of hardware.

Is the Home Premium to Ultimate upgrade software guranteed to give you 64-bit Operating system or will this $160 upgrade just give me more bells and whistles on my obsolete 32-bit Ooperating system??

No guessing please...I had bad luck with that. Facts or empathy appreciated.

 

All versions of Vista come both in 32 and 64 bit versions

When you go to a store and buy Vista it comes with 2 disks one 32bit and one 64bit.

If you want to upgrade going from 32bit to 64bit it is free as long as it is the same version of Vista.

Most vendors will only give you 32bit versions or you can sometimes get 64bit Buisness

 

Thanks.

It absolutely amazes me how PC manufacturers can tout 64-bit machines, then secretly load them with yesterday's news 32-bit Vista OEM. You can spend all day researching Microsoft and Dell's website and never figure this out. You need to research forums, or like me, fire up your new machine, click on the control panel and say wtf. In fact, my salesperson lied to me when I asked if the Home Premium was same as their Ultimate except with fewer bells and whistles. The answer is NO...Dell's optional Ultimate OEM is 64-bit and well worth the $150 option. It's like buying a new Mustang GT and then opening the hood to discover a 4.3L 6 cylinder.

I called Dell today and they tell me to return the machine and buy another one. They will not exchange it or reformat the disk for me thru warranty service. I visit the site and discover the special of the month now includes a $300 mandatory verizon card I don't need. Essentially my PC costs $300 more than last week when I bought it. Great, now Ultimate upgrade costs $150 + $300.

Dell Tech Support also warns me not to reformat and load 64 bit Ultimate Retail myself or my warranty will be null and void. They check serial number & force users to reinstall 32 bit Home Premium to honor warranty. Boy talk about jagoffs.

Just a warning to newbies: Learn from my screwup. Beware of the widespread cheapo OEM Vista 32 Bit version when you buy your new 64 bit computer decked out with lots of optional memory it can't access.

Dell clearly spends more effort bragging about planting a free tree for each customer than it does explaining operating system specs. What a bunch of morons. They deserve to get this PC back.

 

Technically, PC manufacturers can claim 64 bit machines cause, well, they ARE 64 bit machines. Whether the software on it is 64 bit or not is another thing.

Caveat Emptor

 

Well.....not from the OEM.

if you have OEM Vista on a machine already formatted, it will invariably be 32 bit and therefore there is NO upgrade path to 64 bit Vista except complete disk wipeoff and reformatting, starting from scratch loading Vista Retail or the special strippo Vista 64bit for computer builders that has a special cinderella disk that dies once loaded. The Home Premium to Ultimate upgrade software pkg that sells around $180 will only give you Ultimate 32bit. How useless....a bunch more bells and whistles. Upgrade to 64bit is nowhere near "free". It costs closer to $300. The number of folks who build a machine from scratch and buy full retail version of Vista for $300 with both 32 and 64 bit DVD's is very low, so such a statement is very misleading.

 

"The number of folks who build a machine from scratch and buy full retail version of Vista for $300 with both 32 and 64 bit DVD's is very low, so such a statement is very misleading."

And then there are the people who build our machines from scratch and down load Vista from MSDN for free.

 

Are you a car salesman? This reminds me of a dealership that coaxes a buyer to drive 500 miles to consider a rare 6 speed car that turns out to have 5 forward gears and reverse.

I strongly disagree because I did not just buy just a motherboard or microprocessor. I bought a system. Dell rep told me this was a 64 bit PC system, yet it's only capable of 32 bit. It is comprised of limiting 32 bit Operating system and 64 bit PC hardware. Your argument only applies to folks buying a box of parts (hardware) or bare PC and building their own system. I paid quite a premium for a 64 bit turnkey system & trusted Dell to install appropriate software to match the hardware. They intentionally misled me.

Perhaps Ford should install 4 cylinder Focus engines in Ford Mustang GT and throw a spare 4 liter Ford Ranger V6 motor in the trunk to legally claim 10 cylinders. Maybe counting the brake and clutch slave cylinders would mislead even more buyers and improve profit margin. Imagine buying a 12 cylinder Mustang that gets 30 MPG. Cool

 

Indeed lots of people have free software, but Vista with valid product key is not legally acquired for free by the end-user (consumer). I surely can find 1000 illegal copies in one quick search.