HI Guys / Girls..

 

Need some help here... I am about to buy a new system.

 

I play PR & some driving games & love tweaking photos in Photoshop.

 

I am thinking of Windows 7 64bit, but, I want to know if my PR will still work.

 

Can someone explain what the benefits of 64bit will be over the 32 bit version..

 

What Should I go for?

I use win 7 ultimate 64 bit. I've not not one single issue with it. Playes PR no worries. I don't know of any cons.

PR works in 64 bit no probs Andy as for pros and cons no idea

outstanding response time fellas...

Was quicker than my last internet connection (ping) was....hahahaha...

64 bit systems, among other things, break the 4GiB addressable memory barrier that plagues 32bit operating systems. Since even the most basic (ok not MOST basic) systems come with 4GB of ram now, I'd assume you'll want to get what you pay for, and thus a 64bit OS just makes good sense. Vista/7 both run x86 programs without dramas, and the only real problems can be:

 

- Antivirus programs, which I've found need specific x86/x64 versions for some reason (guessing to do with memory or ... ??)

- Drivers, which isn't really a problem in 2011 since pretty much everything has both types these days, unless you're talking about an ultra legacy printer or joystick

Mostly comes down to how much memory your going to run as the biggest decider . 4gb or less 32bit more than 4 then you need 64bit.

:hi:

Whats a Dos?

 

Nah 64bit all the way man. I upgraded my laptop from 32bit vista to 64bit Win7 and haven't had a single problem. Went to the ASUS site and got all the latest 64bit drivers and away she goes.

Win 7 Pro x64 on my box. Very, very good.

Previously I ran XP Pro x32 and the current OS

I have is orders of magnitude better.

64 bit systems, among other things, break the 4GiB addressable memory barrier that plagues 32bit operating systems. Since even the most basic (ok not MOST basic) systems come with 4GB of ram now, I'd assume you'll want to get what you pay for, and thus a 64bit OS just makes good sense. Vista/7 both run x86 programs without dramas, and the only real problems can be:

 

- Antivirus programs, which I've found need specific x86/x64 versions for some reason (guessing to do with memory or ... ??)

- Drivers, which isn't really a problem in 2011 since pretty much everything has both types these days, unless you're talking about an ultra legacy printer or joystick

 

The problem with that is not actually x64 systems. It's the Microsoft Kernel Patch Protection, which is absolutely useless. Viruses can bypass it, but Microsoft won't allow security applications like anti-viruses too.

 

The usual Microsoft bs :blowup:

 

 

Anyway, I recommend x64. That's the way the 'future' is heading. By end of 2011, most *new* computers will use Windows 7 and about 45% of them will be x64.

64 unless you need to run really old software

Gents, as always your responses have help to clarify my thoughts & help me make the big decision...

 

I have been awaiting the clearance of the tax cheque, lobbied the minister for war, peace & finance & had a budget approved for a new system.

 

Of course, like all good budgets, I did slip just over & there was a few tense moments of explaining.

 

All done & the order & payment has been sent... Now the wait for a week & hope them flood waters dont cut the road between Sydney & Adelaide..

 

Ordered

 

Antec Nine hundred two v3 Gaming case

Intel i7 950

EVGA X58 FTW3 ATX MB

6gig Corsair XMS3 DDR3 RAM

WD 1tb HDD SATA3

Duel Sapphire Radeon HD6850 (1gig GDDR5)

LG 22x DVD burner

Corsair AX Series 750w PSU

Corsair H50 Hydro series CPU cooler

NZXT Sentry 2.5" touch screen fan controller

LG 23" 2ms response Wide screen LCD

Windows 7 64bit (yeah!)

Sidewinder gaming mouse

& a mouse mat that should perform better than my wood desk..

 

So there we go... I have done it!

being a bit detached from all the latest goodies knowledge since I departed the LAN Party scene many years ago..

 

I hope I have made some good choices..

I'd be damn happy with that rig there mate. Enjoy it.

 

Fav case also Yay!

Mostly comes down to how much memory your going to run as the biggest decider . 4gb or less 32bit more than 4 then you need 64bit.

:hi:

 

That is what made my decision to go for 32bit Windows 7.

That is what made my decision to go for 32bit Windows 7.

 

You realize the 64bit OS can use <4GB as well? Were there any other reasons like legacy hardware? :wacko:

Duel Sapphire Radeon HD6850 (1gig GDDR5)

Pitting them against each other to figure out which is better?

EVGA X58 FTW3 ATX MB

NZXT Sentry 2.5" touch screen fan controller

Personally I would've spent less on the motherboard & fan controller and would've squeezed in a SSD for the OS, but until someone experiences the difference in OS snappiness, it's hard to convince them that $2.58/GB is good value for money (because people are still stuck thinking that a hard drive is primarily for storage). It's a great computer otherwise though

Go 64 bit. Can use more than 3Gb of ram!

id go with 64 and i have 64 bit

but the cons are manly i have found in racing games but some can be fixed

-v8 super cars 2 and 3 both have unsigned drivers for the cd protection code and windows 7 cracks a wobbly and goes to 16 bit safe mode fix this by telling windows 7 to not check for signed drivers

- need for speed pro street ran horribly on all setting on windows 7 but on my weaker xp machine it ran fine

 

when i looked up these problems it doesn't sound like every one is getting them but thats my input and r factor 2 coming shortly anyway

I think you'll find those issues are more to do with programs not designed for Win 7. Running them in XP compatibility mode should fix it, something Win7 is usually very good at doing.

 

@ Andy - How much was the rig? (if you don't mind me asking)

 

@ Andy - How much was the rig? (if you don't mind me asking)

 

$2349.45 including freight....

Hey capt, if you have any small spare cash get more ram, 12 or even 24gb and youll kiss yourself later. or SSD as Psyrus said but they are expensive.

maybe grab another monitor and go dual?

 

+1 for 64bit (although i voted dos on the poll )

Those 2 that voted for 32bit have a nice slapping coming their way!!

64 bit is necessary if you have even a basic gaming machine, 4gb of ram is a minimum.

Those 2 that voted for 32bit have a nice slapping coming their way!!

64 bit is necessary if you have even a basic gaming machine, 4gb of ram is a minimum.

 

Yeh even tho most games ATM are 32 bit, it is common for gamers to have other applications open at the same time. So thats why you need the more ram.

 

when games go 64 bit.... wowo

I got Win7 Ultimate 64bit. Works on everything. Only con i can think of is that it requires more ram.

maybe grab another monitor and go dual?

 

+1 for 64bit (although i voted dos on the poll )

 

My current system has a 19" lcd which I will use to have mumble & ts etc on while I play PR... at least thats the plan..

 

That list is bought & paid for now...

 

Psyrus, I spent the extra on that MB as it has SATA3 & thats the drive I ordered to match... You are correct with the OS system SSD drive though...

 

THe fan controller is to make it look cool & wank factor value..

 

Now all I have to do is wait..

Personally, with a 6850, i would have used just one, and gone dual monitors.

 

I'll be gettin a 6800 series card soon myself and going with a third and fourth monitor..

 

But its all a bit late for further suggestions if its all ordered.

Personally I would've spent less on the motherboard & fan controller and would've squeezed in a SSD for the OS, but until someone experiences the difference in OS snappiness, it's hard to convince them that $2.58/GB is good value for money (because people are still stuck thinking that a hard drive is primarily for storage). It's a great computer otherwise though

 

i know, 10 second boot times are just awesome!

 

re the whole ram thing. i read an article on how to break the 3.5Gb barrier in 32-bit os's. basically you make the excess ram into a ramdisk then move your pagefile and video cache (apparently they still use part of your hdd still) into it and bam! you have ram like repsonses. Posted the link in "Tech Articles worth reading" thread. so if you must go 32-bit for some reason, you can still have some large ram goodness (o: