aver

i saw two versions of vista as a 32bit vs 64bit OS, so what is the difference between them?

thanks.
aVer.

Motoxrdude

One can utilize the 64bit processor, and the other cant. Basicly the 64bit edition is faster, but there is no support for the 64bit. The 32bit one is the stadard, so i would get that one. 64bit edition would be good if only it had more drivers/software, etc.

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[-0MEGA-]

He's talking about for Vista, not for XP

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Motoxrdude

Oops! LOL. As for vista, i dont know if one will be better then the other. As a said erlier though, the 64bit can utilize the processor better, but i dont know if its going to have the same support as the 32bit one.

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RIP Mom 9/17/55-02/22/08.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10

computerhakk

Basically, the same thing applies to what Motoxrdude said in the first post. If you can use the 64 edition, it'll be much much better. Vista or XP, 32-bit has been the one widely used and thus, widely supported. For Vista, if there is a difference, there shouldn't be too much (as far as compatibility go, not performance) difference because there isn't much that supports Vista as of yet. The os itself isn't even released yet and drivers and such are still very limited to both 32 and 64.

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aver

thanks for your posts guys, so to sum up if im understanding this right, the 64-bit processes info much faster but its less compatible to software's.
would the 64-bit version work on any cpu or supported 64-bit processors, and would it be downwards compatible to 32-bit programs?

i know vista isnt officially out, but this has been bugging me for a while, and want to make sure i understand the concept..

thanks.

[-0MEGA-]

64-Bit Processors/OS are only faster if your using programs that have large mathamatical calculations, since only then does the 64-bit register get fully used. In everyday tasks, you wont notice a difference.

There are compatibility issues with the 64 Bit OS's now, since not many programs and drivers are written for it.

You can use either a 32 or 64Bit OS with a 64Bit CPU, but only a 32Bit OS with a 32Bit CPU.

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