Windows 8: 32-bit vs. 64-bit

[SYBINX]

I think that they should stay with both because not everybody has the money to upgrade their system to accomodate Windows X64. I think it would be a bad idea to just throw away X86 and stick with X64.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Sorry, but most likely 32bit and 64bit. 128bit won't even be considered, and even if it does, it'll be a server based SKU aimed at Supercomputers.

128Bit CPUs don't exist and wont exist for a very long time, what people are talking about is register length. And those CPUs are already on the market (the new Sandy Bridge CPUs have 256bit long registers, meaning you can operate natively on 128bit data types using it)

[Southern Patriot]

128Bit CPUs don't exist and wont exist for a very long time

Well, at least one did, but it isn't one that is going to be running Windows any time soon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/128-bit (the part about the DEC VAX).

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

It was still 32bits, but allowed operations on 128bit data types. The new Sandy bridge CPUs from Intel allow the same thing, but they're still 64bit CPUs.

Edit: I should say, Sandy Bridge only supports 128bit floats, it doesn't currently support integers.

[Ci7]

didnt i read somewhere that win8 will need to be x86 to run on ARM or something???

that rule it out ,

ARM-64-bit-CPU-coming-soon--says-report

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4210884/ARM-64-bit-CPU-coming-soon--says-report

NVIDIA Project Denver is a 64-bit ARM Processor Architecture

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2011/3/8/nvidia-project-denver-is-a-64-bit-arm-processor-architecture.aspx

[CentralDogma]

The question is not ?How many people are using 64-bit Windows vs 32-bit Windows today??

The question is ?How many people have a 64-bit capable machine vs 32-bit only machine??

[PGHammer]

The question is not ?How many people are using 64-bit Windows vs 32-bit Windows today??

The question is ?How many people have a 64-bit capable machine vs 32-bit only machine??

QFT *and* +1

While x64 (on the Intel desktop side) became first popular, then ubiquitous, with Core and Core 2 (and derivatives), it started life (on the desktop) with the Olde Schoole Pentium 4 and the Netburst Architecture (specifically, the Prescott-based P4s).

These same P4s are now appearing as refurbs, and almost all are loaded with (egads) Windows XP x32, despite the x64 capability.

[6205]

By the time when Windows 8 will be available will all new PC's have at least 4GB of RAM what is more than 32bit version can handle. IMO Windows 8 should be only 64bit..

[alexalex]

x64 is not and has not been entirely about large amounts of memory (unlesss you are talking about servers).

Here are my three driving forces for my own crossgrade (and recommendation) to x64:

1. Stability (both application and operating system). Thanks to features such as NX (all x64 CPUs support it), WOW64 thunking (all x64 versions of Windows), and IA32 libraries (all x64 Linux distributions), you lose few to none of your 32-bit applicaitons when running an x64 operating system; also, the applications themselves are safer, because a misbehaving app won't take down the whole OS when it falls down.

2. Increased security. Those same features also act as additional armor for your applications, protecting it from rogue outside-the-box threats.

3. Increased performance. This one actually surprised me; even in cases where a native x64 version of an application doesn't exist (which is true of most applications), merely moving to an x64 OS results in increased performance (as in reduced running time to accomplish tasks) even with no other changes.

Notice that RAM is nowhere on that list.

"Increased security. Those same features also act as additional armor for your applications, protecting it from rogue outside-the-box threats." ?

Look at the list of 64 security updates of this week ? Can you point to a 64bit Windows7 or Server2008 version that didn't have the same security holes that old xp 32 bit has ? On the contrary. Some XP 32 bit holes are just "Important" where the Windows7/Server2008 64bit holes are "Critical".

So much for 64bit being more secure.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

I would think most of those bullet points are just about Windows NT itself.

64bit doesn't stop a program crashing the entire system, good system design stops that.

[justmike]

128bit

[Elessar]

I'd say go 64-bit only. People DON'T have to upgrade, and OEMs can tailor their hardware to support 64-bit from day one.

[Mr. Dee]

We should give this a rest, because it has been confirmed that Windows 8 will be available in 32 and 64 bit both x86-x64 and ARM. Steven Sinofsky showed off a Tablet running Windows 8 32 bit on ARM hardware running with 1 GB of RAM.

[nub]

I think that they should stay with both because not everybody has the money to upgrade their system to accomodate Windows X64. I think it would be a bad idea to just throw away X86 and stick with X64.

Whats there to upgrade?

[Jen Smith]

Whats there to upgrade?

What, aside from the motherboard, processor, memory, cooling and possibly some other hardware depending what the new board supports? Not much.

Besides, Mr. Dee hit it a couple posts up.

[hotdog666al]

Why limit the hardware it can be installed on?

Windows 9 should be x64 only, but Windows 8 certainly needs to have a 32-bit version (and it will, so whatever).

[Ci7]

We should give this a rest, because it has been confirmed that Windows 8 will be available in 32 and 64 bit both x86-x64 and ARM. Steven Sinofsky showed off a Tablet running Windows 8 32 bit on ARM hardware running with 1 GB of RAM.

they may as well drag on tail the magical Windows X

[PotatoBlaster]

It would be great to see Windows 8 to be released 64bit only(of course with 32bit soft support). This would push more game developers on releasing 64bit games, etc. Most of the machines that people own these days have 64bit CPU. This is only the question of extra RAM, which is not that terribly expensive anyway. And if you have 32bit antics CPU, you shouldn't even install windows Vista/7 unless you like watching your folders open 30sec.

[Jen Smith]

And if you have 32bit antics CPU, you shouldn't even install windows Vista/7 unless you like watching your folders open 30sec.

You're kidding, right? Please tell me you're not seriously thinking that.

[enaberif]

Here is what people keep seeming to forget when it comes down to the 32 vs 64 OS.

How many programs are written in 32bit? How many are written in 64bit?

The large majority of software still to this day INCLUDING games are written in 32bit which means software STILL has to be developed to take full advantage of the extra memory. In a 32bit OS each application/game is only limited to 2gb of memory each anyways.

So until developers start producing software to take advantage of it whats the point?

Oh and lets not forget that consumers are the biggest reason why 64bit became so mainstream for. People would buy a computer with 4gb of ram and a 32bit OS and they'd only see 3.25 and be like "Uh where is my 4gb of ram!?!?" so manufacturers starting throwing 64bit onto systems and the consumer was none the wiser.

[maxsquared]

I guess that large amount of 56% are netbooks, with Intel start to support 64 bit in their ATOM and more people turning to tablets, I guess less 32 bit % will be lowered.

[zeke009]

Did you know that UPS is still on Windows 2000 Professional? It means nothing.

Are you referring to UPS WorldShip systems at the customer location or the systems running within the UPS centers? I only ask because that was my first tech job, traveling to customer sites and converting them from Win 3.1 to Win2K for the application that the customer uses to send packages via UPS.

But yes, that is sad that your avenue for business is tied to a system that is no longer supported should it be exploited in any way today.

[McKay]

Hopefully they'll push 64-bit. But make 32-bit available, just a little harder to get, you could have to specifically request 32-bit if your machine is not 64-bit capable and you still want Windows 8.

[Ci7]

Hopefully they'll push 64-bit. But make 32-bit available, just a little harder to get, you could have to specifically request 32-bit if your machine is not 64-bit capable and you still want Windows 8.

can't see any reason why would oem ship PC with 32bit windows

hance give it a time , 8GB is the new sweet spot! when it come around

[Southern Patriot]

I guess that large amount of 56% are netbooks, with Intel start to support 64 bit in their ATOM and more people turning to tablets, I guess less 32 bit % will be lowered.

Yes, but even the x64 capable Atom netbooks (such as my Dell Mini 1012) are still limited to 2GB of RAM, making a transition to 64-bit almost pointless. Not to mention the fact that some of the hardware that comes in them only has 32-bit drivers available. That is the main reason I'm still running the 32-bit version of 7 on mine.