32 bit? that's so last millenium...

Firestrider said:

So the main reason of running a 64-bit OS is if you are running greater than 3.5 GB of RAM? That does not sound too appealing to me. From what I've heard an application in 32-bit actually takes up more memory resources in a 64-bit environment because of "swollen pointers". If 64-bit applications used less memory and less processing power for the same performance as a 32-bit application the switch to a 64-bit OS would make more sense.

Users who don't use more than 3.5 GB of memory (which is the majority of people) have no use for a 64-bit OS.

It more than just being able to use more memory.

For one, accessing that memory is quicker, because the Windows x64 Memory Management works faster.

Windows x64 is more secure, because the System Kernel is protected against being patched by third-party drivers and applications.

Graphics Rendering is better, because the drivers can communicate with the associated hardware much faster using a 64-bit pipeline...

We could go on, but we'll be here all day.

thegr8anand said:

Are the most common apps available in 64-bit? Also how does 64-bit affect games?

Major applications are still majority 32-Bit. Which includes games, which is just another style of application.

In both cases, they run better on an x64 system because of better memory management techniques being used by the OS...

napilopez said:

Supporting the whole 64 bit runs 32 bit apps better notion. Graphics for me have improved quite a bit. 7 looked quite smooth in 32 bit, but my 64 bit drivers just seem, overall, better. My computer is snappier overall and awesomeness leaks everywhere :P.

Your also uber future proof. You can have like what, more than a terabyte of ram?

2^64 = 18446744073709551616 bytes to be precise. Just keep dividing by 1024:

18014398509481984 KB
17592186044416 MB
17179869184 GB
16777216 TB
16384 EB (At least, I think ExaBytes follows TeraBytes )

dmex said:

Windows 7 is the last 32bit consumer desktop release, Windows 8 will be 64bit only

yes dmex i can confirm it too....

i know since Windows Server 2008 R2 will only be released in x64 only....
most of the features you guys got from vista were originally from Windows Server 2003 (which includes the kernel)

Same thing with Server 2008 (hyper-V and vhd mounting, dont remember about booting though) you got with 7

With R2 being x64 this is almost for sure thing that Win 8 will be x64...

Firestrider said:

So the main reason of running a 64-bit OS is if you are running greater than 3.5 GB of RAM? That does not sound too appealing to me. From what I've heard an application in 32-bit actually takes up more memory resources in a 64-bit environment because of "swollen pointers". If 64-bit applications used less memory and less processing power for the same performance as a 32-bit application the switch to a 64-bit OS would make more sense.

Users who don't use more than 3.5 GB of memory (which is the majority of people) have no use for a 64-bit OS.

actually there are other reasons....

• it hardend and includes patchguard to prevent kernel patch (effectively stopping most if not all rootkits)
• DEP so that if a program is tries to start (if wants to or not ) buffer overflows its effectively stopped (i know 32bit has this, but its requirement for a cpu to have this if a user wants to install a x64 os
• improved drivers which means that by default drivers have to signed and tested extensively before they can even be signed and therefore run on a x64 system therefore reducing the number of BSOD's caused by faulty and unchecked drivers...

thats just from the top of head....

Dzomlija said:

It more than just being able to use more memory.

For one, accessing that memory is quicker, because the Windows x64 Memory Management works faster.

Windows x64 is more secure, because the System Kernel is protected against being patched by third-party drivers and applications.

Graphics Rendering is better, because the drivers can communicate with the associated hardware much faster using a 64-bit pipeline...

We could go on, but we'll be here all day.

yes as i have stated above Dzomlija (meaning above my post) yes x64 vista and now 7 is way more secure

thegr8anand said:

Are the most common apps available in 64-bit? Also how does 64-bit affect games?

Dzomlija said:

Major applications are still majority 32-Bit. Which includes games, which is just another style of application.

In both cases, they run better on an x64 system because of better memory management techniques being used by the OS...

it shouldnt affect most games in a bit.....
as for the apps you can still run 32bit apps so no worries there..
Thats what WOW64 (Windows[32] On Windows 64)is about...

WOW64 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

there is one game that caught my eye

Crysis does have a 64bit executable

napilopez said:

XD I had wikipediafied it before and I knew it was way higher, but didn't wanna make assumptions :P

You're right up to the TB part, an exabyte is a million TB :P

16.8 Million Terabytes.

Thats like, alot. Lolz I just realized thats more than we'll likely be able to store in hard drives for a longgg time.

Yeah? Perhaps with Magnetic storage and such yes, but I'm thinking when SSD (Solid State Drives) start picking up in popularity, which is sure to be within the next year or two if the rumors of the 160GB SSD are true, then with 64 bit also becoming more popular, then those astronomical capacities will not be far behind...