64bit vs 34bit

Discussion in 'Software' started by attiliov, Apr 17, 2008.

  1. attiliov

    attiliov Private First Class

    I'm currently running a quad core, 8gb RAM computer that I built with Win XP x64. It runs perfectly, I've got no complaints, except that some programs aren't always 100% compatible. I am thinking of formatting and installing a 32bit version of Win XP.

    My question is based on my system due you think I will see a difference in performance if I switch to the 32 bit verison?
     
    attiliov, Apr 17, 2008
    #1
  2. Colemanguy

    Colemanguy MajorGeek

    Well for one, xp and vista 32 bit can only address 3.5 gigs of ram, so you would effectivly loose out on about 4.5 gigs of ram.
     
    Colemanguy, Apr 17, 2008
    #2
  3. attiliov

    attiliov Private First Class

    well that answers my question perfectly, thanks
     
    attiliov, Apr 17, 2008
    #3
  4. Colemanguy

    Colemanguy MajorGeek

    Now you might just go ahead and do duel bit for those few apps, but as far as most of the time, if you can help it id stay in 64, so you can use most of the ram you have installed.
     
    Colemanguy, Apr 17, 2008
    #4
  5. fordmodelb

    fordmodelb Private E-2

    Run VMware workstation. It is about $180 (one month free trial). Then you can install a seat of XP 32bit and run it in a window on XP x64. That is what I do. You also install an application(vmtools) on the 32 bit virtual machine and then you can copy and paste between the desktops. Don't bother with the free variants of VMware as I haven't been able to get them to work. Don't use Windows Virtual Machine (free) as it does not have USB support and sucks. You can read a Windows .vmc virtual appliance(as they are called) and convert it into a VMware appliance. You can also download tons of appliances from VMware and Bagside http://www.bagside.com/ mostly linux. You start up the virtual appliance in VMware Workstation and it functions as if you had installed it or had dual boot installed it on your hardware. There are other virtualizations systems such as Virtualbox, Parallels, etc that I haven't really looked into, but VMware Workstations rules.
     
    fordmodelb, Apr 17, 2008
    #5
  6. attiliov

    attiliov Private First Class

    thanks guys, i'll look into the VM ware but those programs aren't veyr necessary for me to use

    thanks again
     
    attiliov, Apr 17, 2008
    #6
  7. tym

    tym Corporal

    I have seen this debate before. From everything I have seen and such, you will not "loose" ram. Yes, windows xp 32 bit will not show it, but from what I understand, It still uses it fine. There is a way in the 32 bit that will show you xp is still using all your ram while only showing some of it. I will poke around and try to find it. Hope someone else will find it before me. May take me some time to find it.
     
    tym, Apr 17, 2008
    #7
  8. fordmodelb

    fordmodelb Private E-2

    Yes, I think the trick is to use a program called ramdisk or some such and use all that extra ram as a hard drive for paging
     
    fordmodelb, Apr 17, 2008
    #8
  9. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    Allow me to address Colemanguys first response to narrow this down for you because this has gotten longer then needed.

    3.5 gigs of ram is plenty for Vista. Frankly 2 gigs works for just about anyone. Question is, do you use X64 because you have a program (usually very high end graphics like Autocad) that requires this amount of ram? If not, why do you use the 64 bit of anything out of curiousity? 64 bit drivers and programs are much more limited, so unless you NEED it, I dont know why anyone uses it. Frankly I still use XP, I just find Vista to be the next Windows Millennium. Too much fluff, not enough substance. Its nothing more then a pretty picture dumbed down for Joe Blow. Joe Geek, however, should run like hell from Vista.

    IMHO, and only mine, go back to XP and see how it works for you. Please keep us updated.
     
    Major Attitude, Apr 17, 2008
    #9
  10. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    P.S your not complaining about memory in many posts, your talking compatibility, fairly common issue in 64 bit. "Memory tweakers" or "memory freeing" programs today are borderline useless due to cheap ram prices. Basically, if your out of memory, you buy more ram, not change your swap file (hard drive useage for RAM erases some of this benefit performance wise) or use a memory freeing program (again, not a good idea). You should not be out of memory on your machine and remember that. Again, you mention compatibility, yet we keep wandering towards memory issues. Makes no sense. 64 bit is used about 10-1 vs 32 bit because 64 bit has a niche market it attracts. XP 32 bit unless you have a reason and I know few who do. Again, let us know.

    Also, you could kill the visuals of Vista because your video card might be struggling, which can also be ram related. I saw no mention of your video card. Intel cards usually suck, any video card without 256 megs of ram MINIMUM should be tossed out.
     
    Major Attitude, Apr 17, 2008
    #10
  11. attiliov

    attiliov Private First Class

    I never said I was using Vista, I'm running XP. I'd kill myself before using Vista lol

    I'm using XP x64 because I had a disk for it and I decided to use it
     
    attiliov, Apr 17, 2008
    #11
  12. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    So, the problem isnt memory, its compatibility? 32 bit. Game over.
     
    Major Attitude, Apr 17, 2008
    #12
  13. attiliov

    attiliov Private First Class

    I never complained about memory. All I wanted to know was if I'd see a big performance difference between XP 32bits and XP 64bits.
     
    attiliov, Apr 18, 2008
    #13

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