64 bit vs. 32 bit

[LiberMan]

I need Vista for DX10, and I eventually will probably want around 4GB of RAM (future comp.) Should I buy a 64 or 32 Vista? With the 64 I can get more RAM right, and most games/quality hardware has drivers for 64 bit right?

 

[basty_goofy]

Yes, unlike 32-bit, 64-bit Vista can use 4Gb of RAM.
Most(if not all) of today's hardware has x64 drivers. I installed and used hardware dating before Longhorn.

 

[Klaudius]

I would either partition the drive or buy an external drive and put x64 on the machine as an additional OS, x64 is great, but some people dont have the time to monkey with settings to get it the way that makes them feel comfortable. If you have both OS's you will feel better in the long run.

 

[basty_goofy]

Why monkey with settings? I didn't do anything special after installing Vista x64. I did the same things as for x86 and works like a charm.

 

[roy69]

Get 64bit. There is more to it than just drivers. If you have a problem with a driver before you buy an os it is because you have not done your homework. We will help you if you have an issue with a driver. There are quite a few reasons why a 64bit os of any type is better.

It can address more memory as said because it has more memory addresses.
It can do math quicker because a 64bit cpu can handle numbers as large as 64bit, saving having to break them up, do math and put them back together.
The variables can store bigger numbers.

Quick lesson.

4bit binary number looks like 1111

this is 15 in decimal

8 + 4 + 2 + 1

so the largest number a 4 bit processor can handle is 15.

Now try that 64 times or (2^65)-1

That is 18446744073709600000 -1

That is a BIG number, that is also the max amount of ram that os can address.