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Windows XP 32-Bit versus 64-Bit ??

hi there

whats the difference between XP 32 and 64 bit , many thanks

Comments

  • colin79666
    colin79666 Posts: 1,359 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    well 64 bit in theory is better if you have a 64bit cpu as it can address more memory at once however in reality 64 bit xp is rubbish except in a few specialist circumstances
    64bit xp has limited driver support and few apps take advantage of the 64 bit features

    in short don't waste your money on it either get xp 32bit or get vista 32 or 64 bit (although the 64 bit has some program and driver support issues)
  • wolfman
    wolfman Posts: 3,225 Forumite
    64-bit can handle more than 3Gb of RAM. Given how cheap DDR2 RAM is it could be a factor. Although do you need 4Gb of RAM? Depends...
    "Boonowa tweepi, ha, ha."
  • One of the updates in the upcoming vista service pack 1 will mean that the RAM limit of the 32 bit version will go up to 4gb as it should be!
    64 bit is not fully supported by some/many companies. 64 bit will be good when everybody moves to it but that is not yet.
  • PROLIANT
    PROLIANT Posts: 6,396 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    XP Can handel more than 3GB of ram, just modify the boot.ini file and add the 3GB switch
    Since when has the world of computer software design been about what people want? This is a simple question of evolution. The day is quickly coming when every knee will bow down to a silicon fist, and you will all beg your binary gods for mercy.
  • wolfman
    wolfman Posts: 3,225 Forumite
    One of the updates in the upcoming vista service pack 1 will mean that the RAM limit of the 32 bit version will go up to 4gb as it should be!
    64 bit is not fully supported by some/many companies. 64 bit will be good when everybody moves to it but that is not yet.
    PROLIANT wrote: »
    XP Can handel more than 3GB of ram, just modify the boot.ini file and add the 3GB switch

    Windows can theoretically handle 4Gb RAM, but in real terms it's less. Typically around 3Gb or so.

    Part of the 4Gb available needs to be addressed to the graphics card (256mb or 512mb for example), the pci bus, and other resources. Hence you may end up with 3.3Gb RAM, or 2.8Gb RAM etc... It all depends on how the memory addressing is set up on your pc.

    http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/aa366778.aspx
    "Boonowa tweepi, ha, ha."
  • mieke
    mieke Posts: 5 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    how do I find out if my windows xp is 32 bit or 64 bit? Easy - VERY easy explanation appreciated! Want to install Comodo 3.0Pro fire wall and they ask to choose between 32 or 64 bit and I haven't a clue!!!!

    Thank you!
  • chuckles1066
    chuckles1066 Posts: 2,670 Forumite
    One of the updates in the upcoming vista service pack 1 will mean that the RAM limit of the 32 bit version will go up to 4gb as it should be!
    64 bit is not fully supported by some/many companies. 64 bit will be good when everybody moves to it but that is not yet.

    Yep, I can confirm that Vista SP1 now correctly reports 4GB of ram in my desktop pc :beer:
    You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take - Wayne Gretzky

    Any advice that you receive from me is worth exactly what you paid for it. Not a penny more or a penny less.
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