Differences and Advantages Between 32-bit (x86) VS 64-bit (x64) Windows Vista
Each editions of Windows Vista operating system is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions (x86 anx x64 are terms used by Microsoft), making 64-bit OS option now a widely available choice. And with almost all CPU processor and motherboard nowadays is x64 based which capable of running 64-bit OS, it presents hard decision to consumers to decide and pick whether 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows Vista is suitable choice.
Microsoft publishes KB946765 which details the main differences between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Vista, which mainly relate to memory accessibility, memory management, and enhanced security features, as listed in table below.
| Architecture | Windows Vista, 32-bit versions | Windows Vista, 64-bit versions |
|---|---|---|
| System requirements | 1-gigahertz (GHz) 32-bit (x86) processor or 64-bit (x64) processor, 512 MB of RAM |
1-GHz 64-bit (x64) processor, 1 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended) |
| Memory access | A 32-bit version of Windows Vista can access up to 4 GB of RAM. | A 64-bit version of Windows Vista can access from 1 GB of RAM to more than 128 GB of RAM. |
| Memory access per edition | All 32-bit versions of Windows Vista can access up to 4 GB of RAM. | Windows Vista Home Basic – 8 GB of RAM Windows Vista Home Premium – 16 GB of RAM Windows Vista Business – 128 GB of RAM or more Windows Vista Enterprise – 128 GB of RAM or more Windows Vista Ultimate – 128 GB of RAM or more |
| DEP | 32-bit versions of Windows Vista use a software-based version of DEP. | 64-bit versions of Windows Vista support hardware-backed DEP. |
| Kernel Patch Protection (PatchGuard) | This feature is not available in 32-bit versions of Windows Vista. | This feature is available in 64-bit versions of Windows Vista. Kernel Patch Protection helps prevent a malicious program from updating the Windows Vista kernel. This feature works by helping to prevent a kernel-mode driver from extending or replacing other kernel services. Also, this feature helps prevent third-party programs from updating (patching) any part of the kernel. |
| Driver signing | Unsigned drivers may be used with 32-bit versions of Windows Vista. | 64-bit versions of Windows Vista require that all device drivers be digitally signed by the developer. |
| 32-bit driver support | 32-bit versions of Windows Vista support 32-bit drivers that are designed for Windows Vista. | 64-bit versions of Windows Vista do not support 32-bit device drivers. |
| 16-bit program support | 32-bit versions of Windows Vista support 16-bit programs, in part. | 64-bit versions of Windows Vista do not support 16-bit programs. |
If you value the benefits and advantages of switching and embracing 64-bit Windows Vista, here’s a few considerations to ponder before making the move to install x64 Windows Vista:
- 64-bit device drivers may not be available for one or more devices in the computer.
- Device drivers must be digitally signed.
- 32-bit device drivers are not supported.
- 32-bit programs may not be fully compatible with a 64-bit operating system.
- It may be difficult to locate programs that are written specifically for a 64-bit operating system.
- Not all hardware devices may be compatible with a 64-bit version of Windows Vista.
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Entries (RSS)
May 19th, 2009 02:46
There is no such thing as x64!
x86 is an instruction set architecture which also supports 64-bit as an extension which is known as x86-64, thank you!
January 31st, 2009 02:01
[...] this might help: Differences and Advantages Between 32-bit (x86) VS 64-bit (x64) Windows Vista My Digital Life Typically, 64-bit allows us to access more RAM. The downfall is legacy hardware doesn’t quite have [...]
January 22nd, 2009 12:04
32bit:- people likes me…
64bit:- they will LOVE me
January 7th, 2009 00:18
I have a new computer with Vista 64 bit. I want to go online and access my office computer but it is 32 bit. Is there a way to communicate with the 32 from my 64bit system?
thanks, John
January 4th, 2009 15:10
hehehehe, I feel like my computer is “out of place”. I only have Pentium D 2.66Ghz
(has SSE1, SSE2, AND 64-BIT instructions if i remember right) DDR768MB(kingston 256MB & Dynet 512MB) 3PATA HDDw/ a total of 200GB Nvidia MX400 (128MB VRAM) ^_^
hehehehe.,. I’m using windows XP Pro 32-bit, is there any advantage in switching to Windows XP 64-bit? I’m only 16 years old,.,. so sorry for not being an expert ~_~…
but still, I’m guessing there isn’t much since my RAM doesn’t even go more than 1 GB.
anyway, thanks in advance for the answer.
November 3rd, 2008 03:42
Age of 64-bit has arrived, Age of 32-bit is vanishing!
Soon, no more 32-bit computers will ship… *plays the world’s smallest violin*
Out of the 11 HP laptops listed as “new arrivals” at Best Buy, 9 come with 4GB of memory and 64-bit Vista. Ironically, the other two new-arrival HP systems come with “Windows Vista Business downgraded to XP Pro.”
In other words, you get either XP or 64-bit Vista: 32-bit Vista is not offered standard at all in this list of new arrivals.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10076795-64.html?tag=mncol
In NewEgg’s Top Desktop Sellers List as-of the time of this writing, it also resembles the above pattern. Interestingly, there are 2 “Windows Vista Business downgraded to XP Pro” too!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2032280010%204802&name=Top%20Sellers
All the XP computers are under $500. :p
October 27th, 2008 22:44
I just went dual boot 32xp and 64vista ultimate bit as two of my programs are not yet available in 64 bit. Loading smaller 2gb ram mods for 8g’s of ram instead of using 4gb mods to save cost. So far all looks good.
October 10th, 2008 06:10
[...] Differences and Advantages Between 32-bit (x86) VS 64-bit (x64) Windows Vista My Digital Life "All 32-bit versions of Windows Vista can access up to 4 GB of RAM." Volgens dit artikel kan de 32-bit versie van windows vista tot 4GB ram herkennen. Dusja… [...]
October 10th, 2008 05:28
[...] Differences and Advantages Between 32-bit (x86) VS 64-bit (x64) Windows Vista My Digital Life Volgens dit artikel kan de 32-bit versie van windows vista tot 4GB ram herkennen. Dusja… [...]
October 4th, 2008 03:59
Aqui no Brasil é diferente, memoria Ram não custa menos que 150R$, ter 128Gb de Ram aqui não existe nem nas melhores empresas
September 14th, 2008 08:40
[...] to 128GB I think you have to have Ultimate. There’s a chart around here somewhere… here we go. Differences and Advantages Between 32-bit (x86) VS 64-bit (x64) Windows Vista
August 30th, 2008 02:07
Pues todos los comentarios tienen sus pros y contras pero apesar de todo pienzo que el vista 64 es mejor e muchas cosas no solo en lo de la memoria y procesamintos pero bueno he leido lo suficiente para pasarme a los 64 bits…
August 29th, 2008 04:06
[...] adoption skyrocketing… Here’s s’mor info… 32-bit vs. 64-bit Vista comparison table… Differences and Advantages Between 32-bit (x86) VS 64-bit (x64) Windows Vista » My Digital Life Understanding how SuperFetch uses RAM to enhance system performance… Understand how [...]
August 24th, 2008 05:02
[...] Here is a nice chart that explains some of the not so well known differences between the two. Source After looking at that chart you may wonder, how much of that really matters to me? Well for me the [...]
August 22nd, 2008 23:12
If this is any indication that 64-bit is the wave of the future and 32-bit will be “obsolete”…
“There appears to be a shift taking place in the PC industry: the move from 32-bit to 64-bit PCs.
We’ve been tracking the change by looking at the percentage of 64-bit PCs connecting to Windows Update, and have seen a dramatic increase in recent months. The installed base of 64-bit Windows Vista PCs, as a percentage of all Windows Vista systems, has more than tripled in the U.S. in the last three months, while worldwide adoption has more than doubled during the same period. Another view shows that 20% of new Windows Vista PCs in the U.S. connecting to Windows Update in June were 64-bit PCs, up from just 3% in March. Put more simply, usage of 64-bit Windows Vista is growing much more rapidly than 32-bit. Based on current trends, this growth will accelerate as the retail channel shifts to supplying a rapidly increasing assortment of 64-bit desktops and laptops.”
-google “windows-vista-64-bit-today”
July 27th, 2008 10:27
[...] compatibility, etc. This is MS
July 12th, 2008 13:31
I would say that unless you have no substitute for 32-bit apps that don’t work (e.g. need for business), go 64-bit
I would guess that when things like Adobe CS4 64-bit (available only in 32-bit for Mac for that guy who mentioned OSX) and Office 13, etc. even if there is a 32-bit version and all, you would be slowed down a lot with having lower RAM. Remember that if you have just a 512 Graphics RAM, your user RAM will only be like 3.2 because of all the other devices. And for those SLI gamers…you can cut the user RAM easily under 2.5GB for 32-bit systems.
You have to also consider SuperFetch.
Vista uses extra RAM to store commonly used files in a new activity known as “disk caching” (SuperFetch). The computer uses artificial intelligence to determine which files will be used most and copies it to RAM (where it is much faster than accessing your hard disk). This includes components of the programs you use on a regular basis. When you need more RAM for programs you launch, etc. the computer purges the “least likely used” files from RAM to make room for the new program. That’s why if you look at the performance monitor, Vista always has near zero “free” RAM. So in theory, the more RAM (for disk cache) you have, the faster your computer will operate. This can also be augmented (to a lesser effect) with a flash drive/card with a technology called ReadyBoost. Just stick it in and select “Speed up my system” and leave it there. Google “AnandTech ReadyBoost Performance” for basic test examples.
High RAM will be especially helpful for those people who like to leave all their windows open and use Vista’s “S3 sleep mode” (2 watts) so they can resume where they left off almost immediately after they turn their computers on.
July 12th, 2008 13:20
Technically…
…all 64-bit versions of Microsoft operating systems currently impose a 16 TB limit on address space and allow no more than 128 GB of physical memory due to the impracticality of having 16 TB of RAM. Processes created on Windows Vista x64 Edition are allotted 8 TB in virtual memory for user processes and 8 TB for kernel processes to create a virtual memory of 16 TB.
google “A Closer Look at Windows Vista, Part III: 32-Bit vs. 64-Bit Windows”
June 18th, 2008 11:34
FDS, I’ll tell you one thing.
With 64-Bit, I can use over 4GB of RAM, but with 32-Bit, I am limited. RAM is so cheap these days that I bought 20GB (20 sticks of 1GB DDR2) for $2 each. Ten of them are made by OCZ and the other ten are made by Crucial / Micron.
June 18th, 2008 10:08
After reading a few of these articles on “64-bit Vista vs. 32-bit” I’ve decided to go with 32-bit. It seems 64 bit OS won’t be fully utilized for at least a few more years in consumer PCs. Unless you’re planning to edit digital video/etc. you won’t experience the full benefits of the 64 bit.
June 4th, 2008 18:05
Yup, that’s what I’m hoping for.
June 4th, 2008 17:07
Easier said than done. You need to realize that the market itself is with a majority of users wanting CLEAR advantages out of x64 OSes. How’s the prices? How much more necessary for base RAM reqs? And what’s the final point after all that? Roughly most of them don’t see the general need of 128Gb RAM access if they only compute on Web surfing and productivity apps (such as Office) half the time. Coupled with the currently horrible 3rd party support for x64 drivers in PC gaming’s aspect for instance, we can’t really say there’s any chance in seeing any accelerated adoption of x64 OS until issues like that gets sorted out in due time. Different thing if we’re talking about Apple’s Mac OS X (read: I’m NOT an Apple fanboi).
June 4th, 2008 14:35
I hope everyone stops using 32-Bit and starts using 64-Bit operating systems!