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Thread: 64-bit yes/no?

  1. #1
    I mod everything I touch. Indybird's Avatar
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    Default 64-bit yes/no?

    Heres my predicament. I needed to multitask a lot more than 2GB of RAM could provide, so I got a Mushkin 4GB kit. Forgetting about the 32bit RAM limit, I installed it and was surprised to only see 3GB. After alot reading around I found out that this is mostly due to the graphics card which takes up a decent portion of system RAM (0.5GB).

    Now I'm planning on an ATI HD4870X2 2GB card. First of all:

    Is this going to eat up my poor 32-bit RAM limit (and give me only about 2GB out of my 4GB)?

    Second, I did some more reading about 64-bit windows. I just did a quick sweep, and a lot of the programs I use don't have 64-bit specific downloads. So heres my second question:

    Are most 32-bit programs and games compatible with 64-bit?

    I just want to be sure about everything before I go and spend $110 on Vista x64.

    Thanks for the help,
    Indybird

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    Fox Furry crenn's Avatar
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    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    Put it this way, about 75 or 90% of the games I play are 32 bit games, but they run fine on Vista 64. In other words, you'll be fine. As for spending $110 on Vista x64. Order a 64 bit disc off microsoft (not sure if they do this any more) because ANY vista key works with either 32 and 64 bit.
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    Laziness Expert ESX's Avatar
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    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    Vista 64 works just fine, Im using it right now with 2gb ram so I dont have to reinstall later when I buy my other 2gb. Games and stuff that are for 32bit work flawlessly so far.
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    Measure once, curse twice nevermind1534's Avatar
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    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    I have been using xp64, and all of my programs, except for the old 16-bit ones work fine.

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    Fox Furry crenn's Avatar
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    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    If those dos programs you speak of actually are MS-DOS programs, look up Dos Box.
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  6. #6

    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    the grafix card wont use any more. I have dual 3870X2's (2Gb Combined) and 4Gb of ram. The system shows 3.2Gb of ram installed.

  7. #7
    ATX Mental Case Dane Bramage's Avatar
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    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    i run Vista Ultimate 64 bit without any problems. 8GB RAM and seeing it all.

    i have only found two things that don't run and it's probably more because there are no Vista drivers for them as opposed to 64bit issues. even games as old as Neverwinter Nights still run. Just check it to run as an Admin and even check the "run under XP" check box.

    no issues.
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    I mod everything I touch. Indybird's Avatar
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    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    Well, I went ahead and installed it. Its nice to see my full 4GB of RAM, but now Vista is using up 44% of my RAM on idle, when before it only used about 32%. Obviously that changed when I open a memory intensive program, but it is still annoying.

    My actual problem however is that loading times for applications and windows seem substantially slower; is there any reason for this?

    -Indybird

  9. #9
    Keepin' it Metal .Maleficus.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    Quote Originally Posted by Indybird View Post
    Well, I went ahead and installed it. Its nice to see my full 4GB of RAM, but now Vista is using up 44% of my RAM on idle, when before it only used about 32%. Obviously that changed when I open a memory intensive program, but it is still annoying.

    My actual problem however is that loading times for applications and windows seem substantially slower; is there any reason for this?

    -Indybird
    Vista scales up its memory usage to the amount of RAM you have. If you have more RAM, Vista will use more, plain and simple.

    Do a defrag, clean out temp files and look at what's running in the background. Final solution would be a fresh install, but those are no fun.
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  10. #10
    Ceann na Drochaide Bige! XcOM's Avatar
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    Default Re: 64-bit yes/no?

    i can't say for vista but when i used XPx64 it was a hell of LOT faster, and with XP my memory usage was about 10mb more at idle but i think thats more due to the wowexec process for running 16 and 32bit apps

    But i do know that vista 32 does use omre ram the more you install, there is an update somewhere to stop vista doing that, its not doing anything, it just keeps a record of what yuo do most frequently and then loads that into memory from the word get go, so when you nxt call said app or function its quicker


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