How does 64-bits benefit you today?

H

Hornswoggler

2[H]4U
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
2,325
I am planning on upgrading to Vista this week and considering my options to go either 32-bit or x64. I have been excited about 64-bit operating systems since my first x86-64 K8 back in 2004 but never considered the operating system "ready" until maybe now with Vista x64. I am glad to have the option now, but still not sure what benefit there will be with todays apps. My system has 2GB of RAM, so I do not expect any advantages today but maybe installing Vista x64 will save me an OS reinstall down the road.

My question is this:

For those of you running Vista or XP x64 today, how (specifically) are you benefitting? I understand that x64 is required to fully utilize 4GB+ of RAM, but what apps are you running that really take advantage of that much? (and how much "real world" benefit are you seeing?)
 
I upgraded to 64-bit because there is no reason not to today. If you have a system that supports it then go for it. I haven't seen anything so far that has drivers for 32-bit Vista and not 64-bit Vista.

For me I have 4gb of ram and a 8800gts with 640mb of ram.

I use Virtual PC and easily eat up the ram.
 
Don't personnally use x64, but friend does and likes it. Does a lot of video encoding/editing and is a semi-professional photographer. His editing programs (video and photo) takes all the horsepower you throw at it. I would imagine the same can be said for any kind of CAD work, and some of the higher end games coming down the pipe hopefully will be the same way.

Friend says 15-25% performance increase of 64bit and 4g over 32bit and 2gig of ram. From my limited observations, that seems fairly accurate.

Key is that not many apps are properly written to take advantage of 64 bit..........but those that do will love you for it. If your primary application you use can handle and take advantage of 64, then go 64.
 
The RAM issue is probably the number one reason people will upgrade to a 64-bit OS, but I imagine there will be software that takes advantage of it down the road. General PCs are taking a lot of technology from servers and media is becoming more common (so will virtualization), so it's inevitable. As for what matters today, though - not too much, unless you use your system as a workstation; content creation and editing as well as simply using a lot of memory for normal tasks.

It should be noted that Vista x64 has additional advantages over 32-bit Windows (including Vista x86). It has Address Space Layout Randomizer, or ASLR, which randomizes memory for security, hardware Data Execution Protection (DEP), which 32-bit does in software, Kernel Patch Protection, which protects the system kernel, and of course signed drivers (which you can work around), which adds to system stability. People tend to forget about these. :)
 
If you're running a wireless network, make sure your wireless NIC supports x64, because few of them do. That's the one thing that's holding me back from upgrading.
 
I'm not running x64 Vista as my everyday OS, although I've had both x32 and x64 versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista installed on my rig and running side by side. There are a few reasons why I haven't yet made the transition fully:

  • My Vista x86 installation is already set up with my main suite of applications installed, configured, and linked in to my data.
  • I can't be bothered fully configuring another installation at this point in time.
  • My usage patterns aren't such that I make heavy use of the applications areas where I'd benefit most from the x64 installation.

I'll certainly be making the change at some stage or other during the Vista lifespan. I currently have 2Gb of RAM in my everday rig. If I end up adding another 2Gb that'll be when the change is conducted. Otherwise, when the rig is replaced it'll be replaced with one which has 4Gb of RAM and a 64-bit OS installation. Anybody with 4Gb of RAM should be running x64 Windows, and dealing with any related problems they might encounter.


Anyways, the benefits:

Firstly, x86 compiled applications don't run any slower. That may sound a strange thing to include as a 'benefit', but theyre running in a wrapper, and the fact that their performance doesn't suffer as a result is a major 'plus'. You don't actually need to source x64 compiled applications if those are hard to find for specific applications areas.

Secondly, Windows itself is 'snappier'. Whilst that isn't a huge benefit, it's a very real one.

Next, x64 device drivers are more 'efficient'. This can even add small but real performance improvements when running x86 compiled applications.

Finally, for those applications areas where x64 operation will bring the most benefit you will be able to find x64 compiled applications. Areas of productivity where heavy-duty number crunching and large data files are involved.

And the downside:

Not much, really. Device driver availability for x64 Vista is very good. You might strike problems with some older printers and other peripherals, but not much else.

You will, however, find more legacy program compatibility issues with Vista x64, so you might have need to reassess your software library. There area of activity where you'll see most impact is the tweaking, monitoring and reporting utilities. Your games (if compatible with Vista to begin with) should be fine. Same with your productivity software. But Vista x64 will expose any weaknessess in those system tools. You might need to find updated versions or alternatives.
 
I'm running Vista 64, or will be this weekend, when my other 2 GB of memory arrives. Aside from the memory issue, there's no benefit today of using a 64 bit OS, unless you are using one of the very very few apps that take advantage of a 64 bit OS.

The point isn't to gain a benefit now...it's to be ready for the future. There's no question that 64 bit computing is the future.
 
While individual apps written for Win64 will take advantage of it, I think it's less than truthful to say Win64 doesn't offer an advantage to Win32 applications. Win32 has a 4 gigabyte memory space limit, period. All applications will share this physical memory. In Win64, they share as much memory is on the machine -- if you've got 6 or 8 gigs installed, each app can get two to three gigs of its own memory.
 
hmm. This debate has been discussed over and over again from the the original 8-bit Intel processors to yesterdays 32-bit operating systems.

"Who needs 16-bit operating systems? There is no SW that takes advantage of it."

"Who needs 32-bit operating systems? There is no SW that takes advantage of it."

Sometimes HW was substituted for SW.

Speed: in my machine, I have 32-bit Vista Business on a SATA RAID drive, and 64-bit Vista Ulimate on a simple SATA drive. Even with the "slower" drive setup, 64-bit Vista is definitely quicker. And this is with all the Ultimate "bells and whistles" running. I do not have a definitive number on how much faster, it just is.

Drivers: there is not a single component in my system that does not have a 64-bit counterpart, other than my "paperweight" CL Audigy 2 ZS (32 or 64-bit).

I have only 2 gigs of mem, so I cannot say if 4 gigs is a "real" benefit. I could not imagine why it would not be, tho.

Long story short: install 64-bit. If one of your programs does not currently take specific benefit of 64-bits today, it will with a release or 2 down the road.
 
I've been running a 64 bit OS since the 64 CPU's have been out and, for me at least, the OS's have been snappier and a lot more stable. Of course the extra memory is nice also ! :)
I just can't imagine going back to a 32 bit OS, it'd be like giving up my Suburban and goin back to a horse for basic transportation and I'm too damn old for that ! :)
 
Isn't having the majority of the OS itself running in 64 bit a huge benifit itself (neverminding the 4GB RAM issue).

IE 64 bit, Windows Defender, all those system bundled apps. All more secure because few things are actually written for it.

As far as specific applications, I really don't have a TON of apps on my machine, so I cannot comment on how much support for 64 bit apps I've really run into.
 
djnes said:
I'm running Vista 64, or will be this weekend, when my other 2 GB of memory arrives. Aside from the memory issue, there's no benefit today of using a 64 bit OS, unless you are using one of the very very few apps that take advantage of a 64 bit OS.

The point isn't to gain a benefit now...it's to be ready for the future. There's no question that 64 bit computing is the future.
Click to expand...

Whilst I don't necessarily agree that there's "no benefit", I'd definitely agree that the change is predominately future-oriented. The next version of Windows will almost certainly be 64-bit only. Those people making the change to a 64-bit platform now or in the near future will already be amply prepared for that time. And between now and then they'll also be enjoying the added performance benefits which will increasingly come their way.
 
As a first-time 64 bit user, I must say that I haven't ran into any major problem with it (One problem with a DVD Burner- but it turned out to be relatively minor and not something everyone will encounter). Hardware detected right off- runs freaking AWESOME. I can tell the performance is quite a bit better than 32 bit systems (And actually like the fact that IE 64 doesn't have Flash plugins yet- as that kicks quite a few pesky animations in the butt).
 
Vista x64 offers several advantages that are security related. In my opinion, these are the most compelling features of x64 at the moment.

1. Hardware 'No Execute' - Hardware backed data execution prevention (the 32-bit versions offer this in software). Better protection vs buffer overflow.

2. Address Space Layout Randmonizer - System files load at random memory offsets every time you boot. Again, better protection against remote attacks.

3. Kernel Patch Protection (a.k.a. Patchguard)

Removal of the 4GB memory limitation has already been mentioned. There's so little general use x64 code out there that I don't see it as a selling point to the average user.
 
TerraPhantm said:
If you're running a wireless network, make sure your wireless NIC supports x64, because few of them do. That's the one thing that's holding me back from upgrading.
Click to expand...

Yah, that was one of the major problems I had when I went to vista 64. I couldnt find any pci wireless cards that'd work with vista 64. The ones I found had to be specific (newer) versions or revisions. When I ordered them off newegg, I got the older ones and had to RMA it. Eventually went with DLink DGL-3420 adapter and the matching DLink DGL-4300 router. (In case you are wondering they work great in terms of connection and speed. The router is a bit of a pain to set up though.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top