Vista x64 vs Vista x86

NoodleBrain · Joined: Aug 20, 2008 Posts: 4

Hi,

I'm planning to build myself a new PC in the near future. I have already built a couple of PC for friends, family and myself, so I have a bit of experience.

I am a software developer and the tools I use require generous amounts of RAM. Because of this, I would like my new PC to have the maximum amount of RAM consumer motherboards allow: 8GB.
I also plan to play games (Team Fortress 2, World of Warcraft, etc) on this new PC.

Based on the research I've done my best option is to create a dual-boot system: Vista x64 (for development) and XP x86 (for gaming).

Am I going to have any problems running 32-bit applications on Vista x64?
Do you have any recommendations?

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

I install new PC's as a part of my being a PC Tech and running my own PC business.

I've installed a number of new PC's with Vista, all 32 bit, till last week.
I installed a new Acer with Vista 64 and was disappointed that it would not run some of the programs I've used for years.
Other than that, it ran good. The little computer, a desktop MINI, came with 4 gigs of ram.

I'm running a dual boot (so to speak) setup here, with XP-Pro-SP3 and Vista Ultimate, SP1...... but on two separate HD's.

The XP drive is on SATA port #1 so it's the default boot drive.
The Vista drive is on SATA port #2 and I have to select it from the boot menu in the BIOS, which I invoke by pressing the F11 key on boot-up.

It's actually a very simple arrangement and keeps the two OS's totally separated.
I can do anything I want with either drive, even removing it from the system, without interfering with the other.

I run a third SATA2 drive for storage purposes only.
It holds Ghost Backup Images of the other two drives.

Good luck on your project.

The Doctor Cool

NoodleBrain · Joined: Aug 20, 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks for the info.

I have a dual-boot setup on my current PC (Vista 32 SP1 + XP 32 SP3).

My concern is primarily with using a 64-bit OS (not something I've done before). Despite the fact that hardware capable of running 64-bit has been around for some time, the software world has not yet caught up.

I've decided to install a trial of Vista 64 once I get the new hardware and use that for a few months. That should highlight any potential problems.

goretsky

Hello,

Unless a program you wish to use specifically requires a 32-bit driver, you should not have any trouble with 32-bit applications under the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows Vista. Keep in mind that many of the applications and development tools written in the past two years have either been developed for Windows Vista or tested extensively under it, so you are unlikely to experience any problems with the operating system and currently available programs or hardware.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky