Going 64bit

[daWsOn_s]

Hello,
I was thinking to switch to 64bit OS since a lot of applications I use already have a 64bit version. Searching online I read that 64bit OS can run 32bit applications fine. So what's the big deal? If 64bit can do it then why are we still all with 32bit systems? Maybe it's not true or 32bit applications runs slower in 64bit environments? Or they don't work well? Is this true also for drivers? I mean if I don't have a 64bit driver version will it be ok to use the 32bit version.

Considering the forum I'm writing on what happens if I have different programs the operate together? For example I do a lot of video encoding with megui, megui doesn't have a 32bit but x264.exe does, will they work ok?

Some experiences? Thanks

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Hello,
I was thinking to switch to 64bit OS since a lot of applications I use already have a 64bit version. Searching online I read that 64bit OS can run 32bit applications fine. So what's the big deal? If 64bit can do it then why are we still all with 32bit systems? Maybe it's not true or 32bit applications runs slower in 64bit environments? Or they don't work well? Is this true also for drivers? I mean if I don't have a 64bit driver version will it be ok to use the 32bit version.

Yes, 32-Bit applications run on 64-Bit OS just fine. And no, they neither run slower nor faster, compared to 32-Bit OS ;)

It's true that for 64-Bit OS you need special drivers. But all the major hardware vendors provide drivers 64-Bit OS now, so that's not really a problem.

Normal "user space" applications don't need to care about 32-Bit vs. 64-Bit, because they run in the 32-Bit "Compatibility Mode" of the AMD64 architecture.

Problems may arise from applications that install their own device drivers (as used by certain "Copy Protection" schemes) and don't support 64-Bit OS.

BTW: I think the main reason why we still have 32-Bit OS versions available in stores is that there still is a considerable number of 32-Bit machines in use.