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Thread ID: 66338 2006-02-19 10:16:00 64bit or 32 bit? does it matter? Codex (3761) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
432189 2006-02-19 10:16:00 ok my mate has really screwed up his comp now im geting sick of trying to repair it(same one with the serial problem)

ok does this processor support 64 bit?? and if it does must i install it? or will 32bit work as well?(windows xp pro)

AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+

basicly ive never really learnt much about the 32 and 64 bit system differences so yea, a brief explanation would also be very useful ^_^
Codex (3761)
432190 2006-02-19 10:25:00 The A64 3000 is in basic terms a 64 bit processor it is designed with backwards compatibility with 32bit. The 64bit part of it wont do anything unless you have the software for it.

E.g Windows XP 64 bit edition.
Supports it but most companies dont really support it so theres on point in using it.

Is that what you meant?

Dont bother with 64 bit programs yet since barely anyone supports it.
bob_doe_nz (92)
432191 2006-02-19 10:30:00 The A64 3000 is in basic terms a 64 bit processor it is designed with backwards compatibility with 32bit . The 64bit part of it wont do anything unless you have the software for it .

E . g Windows XP 64 bit edition .
Supports it but most companies dont really support it so theres on point in using it .

Is that what you meant?

Dont bother with 64 bit programs yet since barely anyone supports it .
what i meant was is it better in performance, hardware handling, etc??? is it worth installing?
Codex (3761)
432192 2006-02-19 10:54:00 The A64 3000 is in basic terms a 64 bit processor it is designed with backwards compatibility with 32bit. The 64bit part of it wont do anything unless you have the software for it.

E.g Windows XP 64 bit edition.
Supports it but most companies dont really support it so theres on point in using it.

Is that what you meant?

Dont bother with 64 bit programs yet since barely anyone supports it.

Sorry Codex. I have an AMD 3200+ on a Soltek motherboard and 1 gig ram.
Running WinXPPro SP2. This is a 32 bit processor. It runs all software I have.
About to upgrade to a AMD 4800+ X2 just because I can.
This is not because I have to or need to at this time.

I think that I will get the next edition of Windows when it comes out.

Is this a sempron or athlon or what?

For those of us on the BLEEDING edge we like to try things out.

As bob_doe_nz says you will not see a lot of difference until people write 64 bit programs.

As you say you have a problem with a serial port and I did not see that post.

Changing back to a 32 bit processor will not help and it is likely your mate has a motherboard problem or he/she does not know how to drive it.
Sweep (90)
432193 2006-02-19 12:56:00 Codex:
Recovering Serial Key From Faulty Windows using Magical Jellybean. (pages.quicksilver.net.nz)

It works on my computer. (XP SP2)
bob_doe_nz (92)
432194 2006-02-19 16:25:00 I wonder how much xtra I paid for my AMD 64 cpu, when I have all 32 bit software. :groan: JJJJJ (528)
432195 2006-02-19 23:22:00 I dont think AMD produces any 32 bit cpu's anymore

Turion64 is laptop
Sempron bugdet, now has 64 bit instructions
Athlon64 is desktop
X2 Dual cpu is 64 bit
Opteron server is also 64 bit

so dont think paying extra comes into it anymore

As a side note, yes there is a slight performance improvement going to 64 bit O/S. Most teir 1 manufactures now have drivers. Legacy cards are issues!

Only issues that I know are 16 bit installers!
Unless the software installer is 16bit, most 32 bit software will run fine on 64 bit as they run in emulation mode, though with slight decrease in performance
SolMiester (139)
432196 2006-02-20 03:13:00 To answer the initial question, as per thread title, the only real difference, that anyone would notice, is the large amount of memory addressing that 64-bit processing is capable of. Haze (3028)
432197 2006-02-20 03:32:00 And not many people will ever need 2^64 bytes of memory. That's a lot.

If the computer is not working properly with 32 bit software it probably won't work properly with 64 bit software, except that the installation will give default settings. Reinstalling the 32 bit software will do that too.
Graham L (2)
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