64 bit or 32 bit for a new system?

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OFOTD

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I have been scouring the forums for an answer to my question with no luck. First let me say I am not a gamer. Don't play games, don't forsee myself ever playing games.

I am looking to build a new box for more of what I do. Video capture/editing/authoring as well as audio capturing/editing and converting (.SHN and FLAC). I also want to watch movies (my own) and well as DIVX and the other assorted formats.

So my question is in the qwest to build my own "ULTIMATE" machine do you think I am better served building a 64 bit system or a 32 bit system. Cost is a concern but not at the top of the list. I am an AMD guy all the way but would be open to Intel. Also of note I will be using XP.

Suggestions? Ideas? Opinions
 
if your doing video editing go with the p4. p4 excell over amd in video editing.
 
if you're using XP, and not gaming, get a 32 bit proc. Yeah, Intels are usually better for video editing.
 
A high end Pentium 4 w/ Hyper Threading will be your best option and a cheap solution also. You can get a 3.0c for around $220 or less. 64-bit processors will be nice in the future but right now a Pentium 4 is the best for encodeing, rendering, multitasking, and other stuff like that. Hyper Threading helps out a whole lot in those areas. A 3.0c even beats dual opteron 240's in those areas.

Intel chipsets are rock solid and have good memory compatibility. A64 platforms will leave you guessing at what memory to use and some have troubles even supporting 1GB or more of RAM. As far as system stability goes since you probably wont be overclocking an Intel chipset is alot more trustworthy than nVidia and VIA chipsets.

64-bit will also leave you scouring the net for 64-bit drivers. Along with the fact alot of 32-bit applications will run poorer in a 64-bit OS because they havn't been patched for 64-bit.
 
If any software comes out that uses 64-bit technology, it would probably be worth it. However right now a high-end Intel would be just as good.
 
Originally posted by burningrave101

64-bit will also leave you scouring the net for 64-bit drivers. Along with the fact alot of 32-bit applications will run poorer in a 64-bit OS because they havn't been patched for 64-bit.
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I don't know where you got your info, but the Athlon64 runs 32-bit applications just fine. Check the benchmarks, it beats out the P4 in many instances. 32-bit applications included.
 
I am AMD all the WAY!!!
But if Im doing video editing(which is mabe once every 3 months) It takes feakin forever!!!!
It is sad, but I must say go with the P4. The benchmarks prove over and over again that for video encoding the P4 Dominates
 
Originally posted by jagec
I don't know where you got your info, but the Athlon64 runs 32-bit applications just fine. Check the benchmarks, it beats out the P4 in many instances. 32-bit applications included.
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What benchmarks where? All the ones i've seen at places like Anandtech showed all 32-bit games and several 32-bit applications to run poorly in the pre XP-64 OS. I'm talking about when you have the 64-bit OS actually installed. Not how well the A64 performs with a 32-bit OS installed.

But mostly the Pentium 4 is stronger in the majority of applications out, especially the multithreaded ones. The only real areas where the A64 is better is in gaming and applications where quick access timings can play an affect on performance. The on-die memory controller is essentially its only advantage other then future support for 64-bit processing.
 
I am looking to build a new box for more of what I do. Video capture/editing/authoring as well as audio capturing/editing and converting (.SHN and FLAC). I also want to watch movies (my own) and well as DIVX and the other assorted formats.
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Sounds to me like you should buy a P4.

Erik
 
another vote on the P4 3.0C. Perfect for performance as well as a budget considering the price difference between that and a 3.4. Then pickup yourself a top model Abit or Asus board, and some Mushkin or HyperX RAM.

And don't forget a decent video card for multidesktopping and for an ultimate system, get yourself some raptors and run them in raid0. If not that, then maybe a hitachi 15krpm boot drive to handle all of your apps and such, and then a much larger 7.2k storage drive.
 
64-bit is the future, but for the Windows platform, the future isn't out for another couple of years. By then you'll probably want a new computer anyway. If you use Windows, and work with video editing, get a Pentium 4C and overclock it.

If you weren't tied down to Windows, I'd definitely suggest a 64-bit PowerPC system, but they're very pricey...
 
Originally posted by burningrave101
What benchmarks where? All the ones i've seen at places like Anandtech showed all 32-bit games and several 32-bit applications to run poorly in the pre XP-64 OS. I'm talking about when you have the 64-bit OS actually installed. Not how well the A64 performs with a 32-bit OS installed.
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it performs head to head with a P4 on normal (32-bit) XP. Basically, 64-bit XP sucks right now:p
but there's nothing wrong with the Athon64 in a 32-bit environment, and once they actually get the software side of things worked out having 64 bit will really make a difference.

I'm a P4 owner myself, but I can recognize a good processor when I see one. A64 is a good processor for all us gamers.
 
The thing about the x86-64 (A64, Opteron, any more?) and other similar processors (like PowerPC) is that they run 32-bit apps with no speed loss what-so-ever. They run them at the exact same speed as they would without the 64-bit extensions. Unlike the Intel Itanium that has to emulate it (err, well, I'm not entirely sure it has to emulate 32-bit software, as such)...
 
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