IE8 v IE8 x64

Hi,

I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I used to browse with IE8 as the default browser, but have recently started using IE8 x64 beacuse it was there. I can't honestly say I have noticed any difference between the two.

I was wondering whether there are significant benefits to using the x64 version that I have yet to discover? Why is the default IE8 browser the 32 bit version, even under a 64 bit OS?

Regards,
Golden

IE8 x86 is still the default browser because 99.999% of all controls for IE on the web are still 32bit only (only recently was there a 64bit flash beta available, for instance). If you browse static pages, it won't matter - but if you browse pages that use xmlhttp, or flash, or silverlight, or Office components for Sharepoint, or... - you get the picture - those sites won't load properly on an x64 browser because the x86 control required to display the content will not be able to load in an x64 browser. Unless you have a real need to use an x64 browser as the default, for now, at least, it's best not to.

Thanks cluberti - back to x86 for me.