Windows Vista Ultimate x64 review

Here it is. If I were you I wouldn't even think about posting discouraging comments about x64.

 

That article confirms what I have always believed and that was that X64 runs about 10-15% better than X86.

The "I wouldn't even think" part is inviting some interesting responses though (lol).

 

Good read, but I think you are missing the point of why people stay away from x64 bits. The reason being that it is hard to find drivers for either legacy or current hardwares. Plus, Microsoft claim that 64 bit is for gamers but most of the games out at this time does not utilize 64 bits, "some" doesn't even run, with the exception of Crysis, and a few other games. That is the bigger picture you need to see, I am sure as time pass more programmers would prefer 64 bit more and more thus we have more 64 bit oriented programs to take the advantage but at this point I would not make the switch just yet. btw, I took a blow at the "If I were you I wouldn't even think...." =P

 

flamenko, I've got one bird to shoot...
Dragonpet, that's not why people avoid x64. People avoid x64 because they don't know it runs better, because it's not offered by default on many systems, because users are not given this option and because there are some know it all geeks that will tell you it has compatibility issues. Those little issues left are mainly the developer's fault, since they don't want to code proper drivers. But I would chose the hardware by the driver support. I would...
x64 is for games, because some even run a little bit faster on x64, even if they are 32bit.
The memory allocation (2+ GB for applications, more than 4GB for the system) is another good reason to give it a try.
I have x64 on 1GB of RAM and it's working great. And I don't even have compatibility issues on my 4 year old desktop (talking about missing drivers or non-functional applications). Let's not even talk about new desktops or laptops.
Like I've said before the lack of drivers is the developer's fault.

Well...start thinking and ask.

 

Birds shot...lucky its a Canada Goose. Throw it in the oven at 250 for a few hours and...man oh man am I hungry now (lol).

And yes I agree. The lack of popularity of X64 lies in just about every area except the consumer. This is because of lack of knowledge which creates less support by the consumer which translates into the industry believing there is not a big need for it.

We see this with Dell. They had put out a system about a year ago with the X64 option with very little success. Dell now supports but won't sell as X64 because it is more cost effective this way.

I wonder, in fact, if the success in what Vista now does has also decreased the need to have X64 or the availability of knowledge.

Presently, it is a project for many and, for the most part I have seen a huge success. Everyone who is willing to take the time is sold once its done. I, in fact, remember on one of the other X64 threads a naysayer who was very vocal. He stood his point for a very long time and amidst great pressure. I think he is happy with his X64 system now.

 

Yes, I remember him.

 

And all it took was a visit from his X64 friends, couple toothpicks in the eyes and a drop of water every hour or so on the forehead...not to mention the looping X64 video playing.

 

And he was on the right side...

 

Hey guys...why don't we form a team here on NBR to promote x64....Like the 'NBR Linux Team'....That way we can help spread the word about advantages of x64, help people with their x64 problems and also we'll learn many new things in the process....

 

No, you're wrong. The reason IS because of driver support. If people can't use their other hardware, then it is not useful to them. You may be able to use some workarounds to get it to work with some things, but others won't work like that.

It does not matter who's fault it is, the fact is that some devices and software simply don't work yet in x64. If you get hit by a car but it's not your fault, does it matter? No. You are still in the hospital. That's reality.

I use Vista 64bit and only had minor hardware problems with external devices, and some software that doesn't work on it yet. I think that's as good as anyone can expect right now, but I'm not naive enough to think that just because I haven't seen serious problems that other people won't as well. Different systems will behave differently.

 

I tend to disagree. Driver support will be better if people would ask for x64 drivers. And I have to disagree. My reasons for people not using this version are very clear and I believe that those are the real ones.
Generally Vista behaves the same for all (in terms of applications). Hardware has little to no effect on applications running or not (except maybe video games and other similar applications).
However, think about all the posts about being better to use x86. You'll know what I mean.

planet_vikram I suggested that to flamenko too, but he didn't gave me any answer. orev, what do you think? At least let's write something like "NotebookReview x64 team" in our signatures. Who's willing to do this? I believe it will have some effect after all...

 

Yes, the fact that 64bit Vista is now a big push will cause vendors to write drivers for it. However, " will" is the operative word here, as in, "in the future". That doesn't help someone right now who has an old printer, scanner, camera, PDA, cell phone, tv tuner, wireless broadband, etc... and has no drivers for it. I think 64bit is good, and it's the future, but I would not be telling my Mom to use it yet.

As for software, there is a lot of software out there that uses Explorer extensions, and none of that will work correctly on 64bit. Anything that goes in the context menu and requires a DLL will not work unless it is recompiled as 64bit. It will eventually come, but it's not there yet.

Those are the main reasons I would tell people to stick with 32bit for now unless they have 4GB RAM. The compatibility issues with Vista alone tend to be enough for someone to deal with, and throwing 64bit into the mix adds another potential problem.

 

Yes, but new hardware doesn't quite have problems.

 

I am very much in for promoting x64 fade_black.....It will atleast make people aware that there is something like this out there......!!

 

Intel wireless Pro 2200 BG doesnt work under x64 vista, so i migrated again to xp, and im happy again

The major problem imo is the drivers signature...

 

Yes, there is stuff like that, but NEW hardware doesn't quite have the same problems.

 

my computer is new (3 months old) but when i buy it i think that my "old" wireless card is still working and i dont need a new one.

So if i want wireless i need xp in a NEW computer because the drivers signature. Besides, i hate vista (x64 or x86) same cr*p, diferent smell...

 

good for you, but others seem to disagree. like me.

 

So then your position is that everyone* should use 64bit Vista.

* everyone = anyone who does not have older** hardware, older** software

** older = anything older than maybe 6 months to a year

 

No, I'm not saying that. I believe that Vista x64 should be used with new generation hardware.
Intel wireless Pro 2200 BG Isn't quite new. Any x64 compatible laptop has an x64 compatible wireless card. I don't think that I will ever see a Core 2 Duo laptop with an old wireless card (older than Intel 3965). That's just my opinion.

And on who's side are you on anyway? What's your point? It's normal that if I have ancient stuff inside the case I should look for drivers before I install.

 

I'm on the side of the best tool for the job. I agree that I have seen many people posting incorrect information out of ignorance about 64bit, but I also think it's not a solution that everyone should just go ahead and do it, depending on your needs.

For a person who is ready and willing to tinker with a system and can put up with some issues, it would be good and a learning experience. A person who just wants the system to work, and has older peripherals they need, it's not the right things to use.

 

I tend to agree here. Not all people may want to search for drivers.

 

The link to the review is broken. =(

 

It wasn't broken.

 

I have been happy with vista-64 bit for the notebook in my signature, had it a week though. I wipe and reformatted and reinstalled when I got it. I believe I got all the 64-bit drivers for all the important hardware components in my notebook ... and they weren't all that hard to find. I even have my EVDO card running 64-bit as the new verizon software is suppose to be 64-bit ... that latter was to only install issue I had, but it had to do with vista 64bit driver signing etc.

Seem to run pretty quick, though I did not compare it to a 32 bit install, and as I have 4GB ram, I really dont care to even try.

 

Thank you for the feedback.

 

No, people stay away from it because they are told by others, who have never tried it, that it's hard to find drivers.

What drivers have you been unable to find?
Let's get some facts on the table if we're going to discuss the issue.
I'll admit my setup isn't anything out of the ordinary (no printer, scanner or webcam. NVidia GPU, MSI motherboard, Logitech mouse and keyboard. I had zero driver problems)

Which ones don't run?
Facts please.
Again, I've had zero problems getting games to run.
And even the ones that don't utilize 64-bit may still run better, or even avoid crashes (because they're able to use 4GB of RAM on 64-bit, vs only 2GB on 32-bit)

Yep. Which is why I'm asking for facts here.
Can you remember which hardware problems you had?
Would be nice if we could make a list of what works and what doesn't.
Same goes for software issues. I know it's hard to find a free firewall for 64-bit, for some reason. Antivirus is easier, and Daemontools is no problem at all. Everything else I run is usermode only, so it isn't affected by 64-bit at all, only kernel-mode stuff is)

 

Using Vista x64 since Beta 2. Only drivers problem was my Tv tuner card.

I also had problem with GameGuard at the beggining but they *finally* patched it (my bro is fond of MS =/)

Drivers weren't hard to find for me. My desktop is using a NF4 chipset so nvidia had the x64 drivers right at beta 2 launch (well, only the NF6 x64 drivers but it worked on mine). My C90S drivers CD has all the x64 ones.


Oh wait, I had problems with my integrated sound card on my desktop, the drivers were there but they just didn't load correctly on RC2 X64. The only one working well was the one for Beta 1 X64, and it was really hard to find.

 

Link is broken

 

Sometimes works sometimes doesn't.

 

I'm siding with Knightendo. I think your site is kaput.

 

No, it's not. Anyway, it had interesting results. And it's not my site.

 

I hadn't been able to get into that site, but just tried again, and it worked...

Thanks for the link, Fade to Black. I may be looking to move up from 32-bit Vista to 64-bit in the near future.

Edit...and now the site is down again.