Vista....32bit or 64?

[Cervani]

I'm trying to find out if there is a major difference between the 32bit and the 64bit version, besides the obvious "you can now handle more RAM".

I've been hearing of some software issues in regards to 64bit, and even 32 bit...such as compatibility and other such nonsense.

Is Vista compatible with most games now? Or will all my old computer games (Homeworld 2, Doom 3 etc) be junk now? I'm trying to decide on a good reason for me to upgrade from my xp pro.

Comments? Suggestions?

 

[jdcskillet]

Ok, so I know that you were looking for a more yes/no answer, but to get you started I would go with the updated Windows Knowledge Database. It lists things that are compatible with Windows Vista (I checked and 64 bit is listed). I would start here with things you are unsure of.

I believe that Vista has the dlls for 32 bit applications in the 64 bit edition. I need to research that point further, hopefully someone else has a definite answer.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933305

 

[InductedStorm]

I had some issues trying to run games in vista when it it came out but I think they fixed a lot of issues. One of the best things you can do to get your games to run in vista is Right click the icon and set it to run in compatibility mode for XP. This tends to make things that don't work work.

 

[Sardaukar]

My school laptop had Vista Home Premium 64bit preloaded onto it, and I haven't had any problems so far. While the Vista launch and even after has been rocky, they're really making decent improvements to the OS.

 

[HaloRacer]

I'd go with 64 bit if you have the CPU that supports it. There are very few hardware manufacturers that do not create drivers for 64 bit systems. And most software should work as well.

 

[Dr. Rick Dagless M.D.]

Vista 64 has no trouble running a 32 bit application, but support for 16 bit applications has gone in 64...This isn't too much of a problem, except that some applications still use some 16 bit extensions, that was one of the biggest issues people had. Somehow they need better legacy support in Vista 64.

I would still buy 64 however, it will be able to host more ram and in the coming couple of years that will likely pay you back.

 

[Josey Wales]

do 64 and don't look back. I have vista 32 (because I got it free right when it was released) and have helped people deal with most of the compatability problems that 64 bit brought initially. My buddy just built his new computer (absolutly great for under 1k, *Pats self on back*) with my help and we put 64 bit on his. I'm happily surprised to say many 3rd party monitoring programs have now switched and gone to 64 bit support (it takes them awhile), but there haven't been any 64 bit problems with games that I have heard about recently.

 

[Homie Q]

i gotta try vista 64 then, hmm at first it seems like everyone hated vista now times have change haha. What do you guys think on a laptop, vista or xp would be better, its a newer one but i only have 2 gigs on ram on it.

 

[SHΛRPSH??TZER]

gotta get the 64. if your application requirs 32 it just turns it down to 32, then turns it back when ur done. I have a sony Bluray drive and when i watch planet earth(can just say WOW) it turns it down to 32.

 

[Newman]

most games from within the past 10 years should be able to run on vista