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32 bit vs 64 bit

Discussion in 'Windows Vista' started by Hipupchuck, Jul 13, 2009.

  1. Hipupchuck

    Hipupchuck Guest

    What does 32 bit Vista do on a 64 bit processor? Does is use both cores
    in 32 bit mode or does it only use half the processor?
    If it uses both core, at the same time? or one then the other.
     
  2. ChrisP

    ChrisP Guest

    "Hipupchuck" wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > What does 32 bit Vista do on a 64 bit processor? Does is use both cores
    > in 32 bit mode or does it only use half the processor?
    > If it uses both core, at the same time? or one then the other.
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    It uses all cores as normal, yes. Actually, it performs like on a 32-bit
    processor, the real difference is, that it can't use the 64-bit extension and
    not run 64-bit applications. The processor cores have got nothing to do with
    that.

    However, 32-bit Vista can only use up to ~3.2GB RAM, so if you've got more
    memory you should consider 64-bit Vista.
     
  3. nomore

    nomore Guest

    All things being equal, meaning you have 4gbs of RAM, a 64 bit processor, 64
    bit drivers for your motherboard and peripherals, you should be using a 64
    bit OS.
    The extra GB of RAM that the 64 bit OS makes available can be very important
    to daily operations because of the poor way that Vista and many programs
    allocate memory.
    However if you have older programs with 16 bit code these will not run on a
    64 bit OS.
    There are a significant number of custom business programs of this ilk and
    Microsoft has finally done something smart by building in Virtual XP into
    higher versions of Win7.
     
  4. Saucy

    Saucy Guest

    'Depends on the processor. Usually, with the processors backward compatible
    with x86, the 32-bit version will use all the cores available. In other
    words, it will not install with Intel's 64-bit Itanium processors - but
    does work with Intel's EM64T and AMD's AMD64 processors and uses all the
    cores available.

    How much of a 64-bit processor does 32-bit Windows use? Well, you'd have to
    look at processor architecture. "32-bit" refers to the size of each software
    instruction the processor uses. AMD64 processors can handle both 32-bit and
    64-bit instructions.

    Here's some readin':



    Saucy



    "Hipupchuck" <hipupchuck@roadrunner.com> wrote in message
    news:qumdnUj0F-mxvMbXnZ2dnUVZ_vydnZ2d@giganews.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > What does 32 bit Vista do on a 64 bit processor? Does is use both cores in
    > 32 bit mode or does it only use half the processor?
    > If it uses both core, at the same time? or one then the other. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
  5. kraftee

    kraftee Guest

    "ChrisP" <ChrisP@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:6D849F78-103A-4A3D-90F4-547907E5C489@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >
    >
    > "Hipupchuck" wrote:
    ><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> What does 32 bit Vista do on a 64 bit processor? Does is use both
    >> cores
    >> in 32 bit mode or does it only use half the processor?
    >> If it uses both core, at the same time? or one then the other.
    >><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    > It uses all cores as normal, yes. Actually, it performs like on a
    > 32-bit
    > processor, the real difference is, that it can't use the 64-bit
    > extension and
    > not run 64-bit applications. The processor cores have got nothing to
    > do with
    > that.
    >
    > However, 32-bit Vista can only use up to ~3.2GB RAM, so if you've
    > got more
    > memory you should consider 64-bit Vista.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    Not quite true as this issue was addressed by SP1 so you can access
    the full 4GB with Vista 32bit, as long as you have kept up to date
    with your updates...
     
  6. PvdG42

    PvdG42 Guest

    "kraftee" <kraftee@bande-cottee.me.uk> wrote in message
    news:42480DF6-5DC3-4E81-8852-DEECB0FE540E@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >
    > Not quite true as this issue was addressed by SP1 so you can access the
    > full 4GB with Vista 32bit, as long as you have kept up to date with your
    > updates...<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    Er, not quite. SP1 simply changed the reporting to show the amount of
    *installed* memory vs. the amount of *available* memory. It was changed
    because, IMO, too many users simply don't understand the address space
    addressing limitations. A 32 bit OS can still only address up to 4GB. The
    parts of the max 4 GB taken by video memory, etc. are still not available to
    applications.
    The way past the 4GB barrier (~3 - 3.2 gig available) is a 64 bit OS.
     
  7. Drew

    Drew Guest

    Totally untrue as sp1 only allowed the computer to show all 4gigs if
    applicable! It does not allow you to use any more than before sp1. If before
    sp1 you could only see and use hypothetically 3.25 gigs then that is all you
    will have after sp1 but windows will show 4 gigs. It is a limitation of a
    number of things not to have more. Do a google search on 4gigs and a 32 bit
    op system

    "kraftee" <kraftee@bande-cottee.me.uk> wrote in message
    news:42480DF6-5DC3-4E81-8852-DEECB0FE540E@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > "ChrisP" <ChrisP@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > news:6D849F78-103A-4A3D-90F4-547907E5C489@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >>
    >>
    >> "Hipupchuck" wrote:
    >><!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    >>> What does 32 bit Vista do on a 64 bit processor? Does is use both cores
    >>> in 32 bit mode or does it only use half the processor?
    >>> If it uses both core, at the same time? or one then the other.
    >>><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >>
    >> It uses all cores as normal, yes. Actually, it performs like on a 32-bit
    >> processor, the real difference is, that it can't use the 64-bit extension
    >> and
    >> not run 64-bit applications. The processor cores have got nothing to do
    >> with
    >> that.
    >>
    >> However, 32-bit Vista can only use up to ~3.2GB RAM, so if you've got
    >> more
    >> memory you should consider 64-bit Vista.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    >
    > Not quite true as this issue was addressed by SP1 so you can access the
    > full 4GB with Vista 32bit, as long as you have kept up to date with your
    > updates... <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
  8. Drew

    Drew Guest

    Yes this pretty much nails down the answer

    "PvdG42" <pvdg@toadstool.edu> wrote in message
    news:#8gvrdBBKHA.5020@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >
    >
    > "kraftee" <kraftee@bande-cottee.me.uk> wrote in message
    > news:42480DF6-5DC3-4E81-8852-DEECB0FE540E@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >>
    >> Not quite true as this issue was addressed by SP1 so you can access the
    >> full 4GB with Vista 32bit, as long as you have kept up to date with your
    >> updates...<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    > Er, not quite. SP1 simply changed the reporting to show the amount of
    > *installed* memory vs. the amount of *available* memory. It was changed
    > because, IMO, too many users simply don't understand the address space
    > addressing limitations. A 32 bit OS can still only address up to 4GB. The
    > parts of the max 4 GB taken by video memory, etc. are still not available
    > to applications.
    > The way past the 4GB barrier (~3 - 3.2 gig available) is a 64 bit OS. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     

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