Windows XP 64 bit VS xp 32 bit on a dual core machine. Anyone know the following question?

Question

My question is simple. I have a dual core processor on my system. I am running windows xp 64 bit. I have 4 gig of ram and a dual core 6400 processor. I am wondering if there is really any advantage of running 64 bit windows xp on a dual core, as opposed to just running a 32 bit version.. Is there really any difference? Please help. Also is there a patch for the 32 bit version to allow it use the full 4 gig of ram?

Answer 1

Firstly running a 64bit OS is always faster than a 32bit OS. Second of all running Win XP with 4GB of RAM will not enhance your performance significantly. Win XP does support 4GB, but personally I did not see any significant difference. Info on memory limitation of various Windows OS SKUs can be found here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx



So my suggestion is to run 64 bit. Since it already has the WOW64 subsystem, you can run 32 bits programs on it as well, since the 64 bit program pool is very limited as of now. You can consider keeping the RAM for future, incase you decide to upgrade to a Server or WinXP+ OS. Or you can sell it :P

But 64 bit is definitely the way to go. By 64 bit, I of course mean the AMD64/EMT64 architecture and not the dreaded IA64 architecture.



Some more info to help make up your mind: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/compare-editions/64-bit.aspx

Answer 2

The 32-bit version already does use all 4gb of RAM, it just doesn't display that fact properly. Any more than 4gb, though, and you'll definitely want 64-bit. You probably won't notice any difference (well, maybe drivers) if you downgrade to 32-bit, you may as well save some money and keep what you have.

Answer 3

Use the 32, It should use 4gb with no problem.



The 64 bit has better performance particularly if you go above 4gb, but the 64 bit version also has a lot of compatability problems



When I used the 64 bit version it was a lot of hassle, and I couldn't get drivers for everything.

Answer 4

64 bit XP allows you to gain full control of your 4 gb of RAM and is definitely the way to go, you would be surprised to learn how much of a difference even 512 MB of RAM is on a computer. 32 bit only allows 3 - 3.5 GB of ram, and 64 bit allows more.

Answer 5

basically some applications can use sixty 4 bit processing. no count if it relatively is a game then it relatively is going to be interior the sport specs. As somebody else has pronounced, sixty 4 bit enables plenty extra RAM than the three.5MB that 32 bit can use.