[rooney]

vista 32bit or 64 bit wich way are you going to swing if at all

[stockyvillage]

i would prefer 64 bit but as it is going to have the same problems over support as xp pro 64 i will run 32 bit for time being

[Anim]

32bit initially then using the online upgrade system, pay the difference and get the 64bit in a few months.

[misterjingo]

I think 32 bit will be the best option for most people for now. I went x64 as i don't mind tinkering with things and have everything I need running perfectly under x64.

[Cable Monkey]

32 for me. 64 is still too quirky and I was unable to get the sound drivers working despite trawling the web for work arounds. At the end of the day my laptop is my every day work horse. I don't have the time to tinker!

[wormvortex]

64bit, It may be a bit more of an effort but thats what pc's are about

[Singh400]

32-bit, 64 is still poorly supported by the majority of manufactuers.

[AMCross]

i'm swinging both ways

64 bit for core 2 and 32 bit for 775 3.4 ghz

[wormvortex]

Originally Posted by Singh400

32-bit, 64 is still poorly supported by the majority of manufactuers.

Not true, most the major ones have included 64bit drivers now. If you have older hardware it will be harder to find some but newer hardware shouldn't be such a problem.

Also M$ stated that in order for 32bit vista drivers to be singed by M$ they must also create 64bit version.

[rooney]

i need to wait for a few drivers/updates(come on serrif/kapersky) then i will make the old leap of faith i think i will be in the 64 camp .its got 2 be done as the technology is here i hope i dont regret saying this

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by wormvortex1337

Also M$ stated that in order for 32bit vista drivers to be singed by M$ they must also create 64bit version.

When did Microsoft say that? Would appericate a link.

[wormvortex]

read it on overclockers forums. Someone posted it as a quote

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by wormvortex1337

read it on overclockers forums. Someone posted it as a quote

Well thats the first I've heard of that. Are you sure you dont mean, that for manufactuers to make & distrubute x64 drivers for Vista, that they must be signed by Microsoft? I know that is the case.

FYI Unsigned drivers for x64 won't install.

[mjn]

Originally Posted by Singh400

FYI Unsigned drivers for x64 won't install.

Exactly!

The 64-bit version really flys on my machine, but the driver and application support is awful.

D-Link have NO 64-bit digitally signed drivers for any of their network cards!

[wormvortex]

Originally Posted by Singh400

Well thats the first I've heard of that. Are you sure you dont mean, that for manufactuers to make & distrubute x64 drivers for Vista, that they must be signed by Microsoft? I know that is the case.

FYI Unsigned drivers for x64 won't install.

nope defiently read what I wrote eariler. Would make sense as well. M$ are trying to get people to take the 64bit step and what better way than forcing companies to make x64drivers if they want to have any drivers at all signed by M$.

[bradavon78]

Originally Posted by wormvortex1337

Not true, most the major ones have included 64bit drivers now. If you have older hardware it will be harder to find some but newer hardware shouldn't be such a problem.

What about software though? I'd think you need 64-Bit Security and Diagnostic software too.

Originally Posted by rooney

vista 32bit or 64 bit wich way are you going to swing if at all

You have to ask which version of Vista you want as only Business is getting a 64-Bit version (I presume it's Business anyway). All the rest are 32-Bit only.

Only XP Pro is 64-Bit. There is no XP Home or XP MCE 64-Bit. I'd prefer 64-Bit BUT want Vista Home Premium and as has already been said driver and software support still sucks.

The mad thing is the Intel Core 2 Duo IS a 64-Bit chip but for most people will be running in 32-Bit, which seems absurd to me.

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by bradavon78

You have to ask which version of Vista you want as only Business is getting a 64-Bit version (I presume it's Business anyway). All the rest are 32-Bit only.

What are you on about?!

Most of the Vista editions come in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavours.

Give me 5 mins and I'll prove it...

Edit* See post below

|
|
|
\|/
v

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by Singh400

What are you on about?!

Most of the Vista editions come in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavours.

Give me 5 mins and I'll prove it...

be right back

Seeing as I own both 32 and 64 retail edtions, I scanned the WIM images for each discs and outputted the XML info (cleaned it up so its easier to read):

32 Bit:

• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Home Basic N
• Windows Vista Business N
• Windows Vista Starter

64 Bit:

• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Home Basic N
• Windows Vista Business N

As you can see the only editon of Windows Vista that doesn't have a 64 Bit counterpart is Starter Edition.

[wormvortex]

Actually the retail ones are all cept for business/ultimate 32bit, they come with a card that gives you a link to a website where you pay £7.99 and M$ send you the 64bit version.

thats why its listed under:

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Full Edition DVD (Includes 32-bit DVD and info on obtaining 64-bit DVD) - Retail (66I-00017)

on overclockers.

[andyturner28]

Originally Posted by wormvortex1337

Actually the retail ones are all cept for business/ultimate 32bit, they come with a card that gives you a link to a website where you pay £7.99 and M$ send you the 64bit version.

thats why its listed under:

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Full Edition DVD (Includes 32-bit DVD and info on obtaining 64-bit DVD) - Retail (66I-00017)

on overclockers.

So if i was to initially get a 32bit version, would it be possible to upgrade to 64bit at a later date?
What are the advantages of 64bit anyway if you have a 64bit CPU. I have not kept up to speed with PC matters over the last year, but now have the upgrade bug.

Andy.

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by wormvortex1337

Actually the retail ones are all cept for business/ultimate 32bit, they come with a card that gives you a link to a website where you pay £7.99 and M$ send you the 64bit version.

thats why its listed under:

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Full Edition DVD (Includes 32-bit DVD and info on obtaining 64-bit DVD) - Retail (66I-00017)

on overclockers.

No if you buy Retail editions of Vista then you get both 32 and 64 (this is the case with Ultimate, that I know).

However if you buy OEM editons of Vista then you will have to buy 32 and 64 separately.

[wormvortex]

Originally Posted by Singh400

No if you buy Retail editions of Vista then you get both 32 and 64 (this is the case with Ultimate, that I know).

However if you buy OEM editons of Vista then you will have to buy 32 and 64 separately.

Only ultimate, and possible business? include 64bit retails out-of-the-box. All the other versions are only 32bit with the option to send of for the 64bit upgrade for around £8

EDIT: link about 64bit upgrade

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by wormvortex1337

Only ultimate, and possible business? include 64bit retails out-of-the-box. All the other versions are only 32bit with the option to send of for the 64bit upgrade for around £8

EDIT: link about 64bit upgrade

Only Vista Ultimate Retail includes both 32 and 64 DVDs.

For

• Windows Vista Home Basic Retail
• Windows Vista Home Premium Retail
• Windows Vista Business Retail

You need to request/send off for the x64 media.

[Batch]

So if you buy a PC with Vista Ultimate pre-installed, do you get 32 or 64 bit?

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by Batch

So if you buy a PC with Vista Ultimate pre-installed, do you get 32 or 64 bit?

That would depend on the CPU & the OEM you are purchasing from.

You will either get 32 or 64, you won't get both.

[JamesS]

I am having a pc built via local shop, spec as below:

CORE 2 DUO E6400 2.13ghz

2GB MEM PC5300

250GB HD

GEFORCE FX7600 GS 256 MB

VISTA PREM Either 32 or 62 bit?

Will be using system mainly for office/home work with some multi task use. Appreciate that the graphics nothing write home about but will not be playing harden games on it. My question is, which version vista best go for?.Not really a tinker when it comes to pc's so reading what is on forum I would guess maybe 32 bit one to go for. Any comments on choice of spec (before I pop my order in ) and version of vista greatly appreciated, cheers.

[Stiggy]

Before someone posts the rumour that the 32-bit version of Vista does not support HD-DVD and Blu-ray, here is a quote from Gizmodo:

An update to our earlier post, it turns out the 32-bit version of Windows Vista can play next-gen protected high definition content. Microsoft reps said Senior Program Manager Steve Riley was mistaken when he told a group of Australian developers that Vista couldn't handle the high definition movies.

But the Microsoft representatives said the support will come from third party HD DVD/Blu-ray movie playback software developers like CyberLink who already make DVD playback software.

[Stiggy]

Originally Posted by JamesS

Will be using system mainly for office/home work with some multi task use. Appreciate that the graphics nothing write home about but will not be playing harden games on it. My question is, which version vista best go for?

It all depends on what applications you intend to run. You won't get any benefit from going 64-bit for normal Office applications, and you might get some compatability problems with older apps.

Your hardware should be OK for either; but driver support for any peripherals like printers/scanners etc. might be patchy for 64-bit.

I'd go for 32-bit. Also, you don't need Home Premium unless you want to use the Media Center.

[arfster]

The major problem with 32bit will soon be memory - it's essentially limited to around 3GB, depending on what peripherals you have eating the address space (varies from 2.5GB to 3.5GB). That might sound a lot today, but already you need 1.5GB for practical use - just running IE while Nero burns a DVD causes a 1GB machine to grind to a halt. Ditto huge video files, like HDDVD.

Most of this is down to bloated applications admittedly, but that's pretty much inevitable. Give it a year, and 2GB will be the practical minimum.

[DanH]

Originally Posted by Singh400

Well thats the first I've heard of that. Are you sure you dont mean, that for manufactuers to make & distrubute x64 drivers for Vista, that they must be signed by Microsoft? I know that is the case.

FYI Unsigned drivers for x64 won't install.

For a driver to get WHQL certification, it must have both 32 and 64bit versions. I haven't got a link to hand but I've seen the info at loads of places.

There is a difference between WHQL certified drivers and "signed" drivers though. You can buy the correct certificate to get your 64bit driver signed and able to be installed in Vista x64 for $500 from Verisign (MS doesn't have to sign them at all), but you will get the usual "This driver is not certified" warning message when installing. Only WHQL certified drivers install without the warning, and as you already mentioned, unsigned drivers wont install at all.