???WindowsXP 64bit???

[Dj_Chow]

I wanna buy a new computer to do some video editing and playing some sweet games but I dont know if I should get a computer for today or plan for the future. Would WinXP 64Bbit and 64bit software be on the market in the next little while or what? Is there a performance boost if I run WinXP 64bit and 32bit software or both OS and software have to be 64bit in order for boost in performance??

[JANINE]

plan for the future definately but bear in mind that 32 bit software will not work on a 64 bit machine. very soon though you'll be able to get hold of 64 bit programs easily. give another 2-3 months and keep your ears and eyes open. start reading pcplus and pcformat magazines more often and keep eyes on the web and media

[Catweazle]

plan for the future definately but bear in mind that 32 bit software will not work on a 64 bit machine. very soon though you'll be able to get hold of 64 bit programs easily. give another 2-3 months and keep your ears and eyes open. start reading pcplus and pcformat magazines more often and keep eyes on the web and media

Please refrain from offering incorrect advice. 32-bit Windows applications will most certainly run on a 64-bit machine when Windows 32-bit is being used, and will also be able to be run when 64-bit Windows is being used.

I'd also give it a much longer timeframe that 2 to 3 months before Windows 64-bit applications are in common use.

[Catweazle]

There is no reason NOT to get a 64-bit capable PC at present. Most high-end desktop processors are enabled for 64-bit. Both AMD and Intel processors, in the higher models, have the capability.

Windows 64-bit will give no improvement for existing, 32-bit games. But it will give no appreciable performance drop either. See this discussion from Sharkey Extreme for an example:
http://www.sharkeyextreme.com/hardware/cpu/article.php/3261_3484631__10

Specialised software tasks, such as the video editing you mention, will most certainly get a boost from 64-bit computing, but only when suitable software becomes available. For now, using 32-bit Windows is fine. Pick the processor and system for performance, and performance is what you'll get.

If games is your priority, then the best single core Athlon64 processor you can afford is the wisest choice you could make to base a system on, and it can currently be happily partnered by 32-bit Windows.

If the applications processing is your priority, it might be better to wait a bit until the Athlon64 X2 dual-core processors reach retail (if you can afford one) as they will give a dramatic improvement with suitably written software. There is currently no processor 'type' or 'niche' for which Intel holds the performance lead over AMD.

[JANINE]

Please refrain from offering incorrect advice. 32-bit Windows applications will most certainly run on a 64-bit machine when Windows 32-bit is being used, and will also be able to be run when 64-bit Windows is being used. I'd also give it a much longer timeframe that 2 to 3 months before Windows 64-bit applications are in common use.

Im only saying what i have read elsewhere but maybe that article was wrong;)

[JANINE]

Im only saying what i have read elsewhere but maybe that article was wrong;)

ok....that article was wrong. very wrong.:) i have just read more information on microsofts website and i think the information that comes direct from the os vendor is more likely to be right then some third party info. 32bit apps will run on 64bit systems but there wont be any performance difference in them.:)

[Catweazle]

Wouldn't it be better to do the necessary research BEFORE offering advice? :idea:

[JANINE]

Wouldn't it be better to do the necessary research BEFORE offering advice? :idea:

K, yes it would.:-|