Vista - 32-bit or 64-bit?

I'm building a new computer, mine is getting pretty old. I'm thinking of using Vista, but don't know about 32- vs 64-bit versions. Is there any advantage of one over the other? The MB and CPU will be able to run 64-bit.

Or should I run away from Vista?

Thanks
:hi:

Vista is a failure- it's been rejected by Big Biznezz as a flop, and I've had conversations with many business AND home users about how appalling a waste of time and money it is. As a computer repair geek, I've been asked by several commercial clients to downgrade new Vista machines to XP because it's simply not possible to integrate a Vista machine into an XP network. That plus all comparison tests have shown Vista to be very slow and unresponsive in comparison to identical machines with XP installed.

Get an x64 machine and put XP x32 SP2 on it. Spend the rest of your money on memory and you'll have a Windoze computer that will work and play well with all others.

And now the Mac and Linux proponents step in behind me for their spiels... :evilgrin:

In the past year i have rolled out over 2000 users to Vista in Govt and private sector. And it has been a huge success. Also you are totally incorrect about XP and Vista in a network i suggest you read before you "Lie?" or make false statements. I do it all the time in a mixed environment. And you unresponsive claim? Boulder dash. PLEASE refrain from spreading lies and innuendo.

:shrug:

i just stick to the facts and let the cookie fall where it may.

You're likely, at least, to have driver issues. You may have driver issues anyway, but you'll have more of them with the 64 bit version.

But I'd run away from Vista.

Definitely stay away from the 64-bit though. Lots of driver problems, especially if you push your machine to the limits for sound and/or video.

I'm running Vista Business on a very old PIII-1.2 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB ATA hard drive laptop. It won't enable the Aero interface, for good reason, but other than that it actually runs pretty well.

And the newer systems, with dual core chips, 2+ GB RAM, and a speedy HD, run Vista nicely. Don't be afraid of it.

there are 32->64 translation issues; resulting in performance problems.

(32-bit vmware under 64-bit linux was grossly inefficient... and that was on dual core/4gb RAM AMD64 hardware from 2006.)

The goal of running a 64-bit OS *should* be to run a system on which all the software is compiled for 64-bit *and* takes advantage of it. Performance benefits certainly do exist in that.

As is obvious, that's simply not possible right now because so much software (especially drivers) do not have native 64 bit versions. However, the performance problems should not be overstated and certainly not compared in this way. I mean, think about it. You're essentially running an emulator inside an emulator and could have been adding another layer or two to that depending on how you set it up. Of course there's going to be a performance hit. My main system is a 64 bit OS with most of the software and all the drivers native 64bit versions. The performance issues I experience are negligible, but then I don't need and so don't run VMWare.

I use 3 64 bit OS's and i can tell you "across the board" i get a better performance. granted a few apps that ONLY work in 32 bit mode will cause a little hiccup but all in all i likey. Besides SOMEONE has to force these dolts to start programming 64 bit.

Though over time the hardware mfgs will develop 64-bit counterparts that work as well as the 32-bit ones. Save yourself some headaches and go 32-bit for now.

serious

it has way, and I mean this WAAAYYYYYY too many problems (or wait until at least SP1) If you decide to keep it 64 bit is the way of the future

still disagree with your first point, i am over the 2500 mark on Vista deployments now and 99% of the folks couldn't be happier. I totally agree on the second, screw 32 bit it's so ancient.

Somehow, I doubt it's Crysis or Blender.

isn't that just a pickle. MOST machines are having problem running Crysis. Go check out Toms reviews. And actually at work not many people get to Play games, it is frowned upon. However we have some kick ass CRM and SAP apps that just rock. A few graphic design suites that just about blows away Half Life. And i even have a Vista 2008 server running a major transaction processing app that is the bomb.

Oh and what was the point by the way?

2 Gripes -

#1. Windows Automatic Updates was broken, right out of the box.
Had to rename a folder, download the new Windows Update Client.
Had to delete some Registry keys.
Works now but still frustrating.

#2. Could not Send email (connect to smtp server) until I UNINSTALLED the PC-cillin
antivirus that came pre-installed.
Killing the antivir process didn't do it.
Stopping all the antivir services didn't do it.
I had to uninstall the damn thing.
Works now but still frustrating.

After turning off Aero and all the bells and whistles, I'm happy with the machine.

Would I run my business on it? Probably not.

Is it good for web surfing, email, and listening to music? Seems to be.

I do LOVE the HD screen res on this low end Dell Inspiron lappy.

Not gutsy enough to try 64-bit, after reading comments.

I'm still a long way from having it "done", but so far, so good.

After changing the group name from "workgroup" to the name I use on the other machine, the two machines link up and can share the printer.

Now to load "audacity" and see if it'll edit sound.

Then to download "open office", see how that does under vista.

Thanks for all the opinions and advice. I'll undoubtedly be back looking for help or sympathy.

:hi: