64bit or 32bit CPU???

[liquidmonkey]

basically i'm out to get a new computer and have read a bit on 64-bit CPU's but still have a few questions...

how can u tell if a program or game is optimized for 64-bit CPU's?

can all the 32bit programs and games run on the 64 bit platform and take advantage of the increased amount of RAM?

do i need a 64bit version of winXP?

do graphics cards and ram need to be 64bit compatible?

i want to get a quad core, does it have to be quad core 64 bit? (i'm going to guess a bit yes on this one)

i'm a bit clueless on the 64bit computing front so would appreciate any good links a simple explanation but i also build my own computers so am not totally useless

thanks in advance

 

[Twist86]

how can u tell if a program or game is optimized for 64-bit CPU's?

It will say x64 bit before you download it/buy it.

Example

can all the 32bit programs and games run on the 64 bit platform

Yet to find a program that wont work with 64 bit...even Diablo made back in 1990 ran just fine.

and take advantage of the increased amount of RAM?

If it was made to use it then yes...if not then no. 64 bit doesn't magically allow programs to use 4GBs of ram...it only allows you to be able to have more then 4GB installed and if a program can use it then it can/will.

do i need a 64bit version of winXP?

64 bit XP sucks...no driver support...move to Vista x64 or stay with XP 32 bit.

do graphics cards and ram need to be 64bit compatible?

No. Ram/GPU doesn't factor in...only CPU and the OS

i want to get a quad core, does it have to be quad core 64 bit? (i'm going to guess a bit yes on this one)

Every CPU from Dual Core + is 64 bit ready.

 

[liquidmonkey]

awesome response mate, much appreciated!!!

nice to hear that new cpu's are 64 bit ready, thats good, so basically it all comes down to the OS.
i'm going to guess that windows 7 - 64 bit is gonna rock so will wait until that comes out in early 2010.

thanks again!

 

[tyttebøvs]

and take advantage of the increased amount of RAM?

About that. No 32bit application can use more than 4GB (except very few ones). But if you run multiple 32bit apps that uses a lot of ram, they can use it all.

a 64bit app can, of course, use it all on its own.

 

[liquidmonkey]

i like the way u put that!
i use photoshop, lightroom, pinnacle, itunes, dreamweaver, flash, firefox, vlc ALOT and often all of those at the same time, so that was why i wanted more RAM.

 

[Janck]

If you want that your computer will run smoothly for a long time then take 64bit.

 

[AlienMenace]

If you like vista, then go with the 64 bit side to it. And as for Windows xp pro x64. the only problem I have run into is the drivers for my web cam. everything works fine. You just have to do research on drivers.