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64 Bit CPU - Is it worth it?

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Deozaan:
I did a quick search on the topic and found that there have been similar threads about 64-bit software, but with so many recent threads about building a new PC I've got to ask: Is it really worth it to get a 64-bit CPU?

In mid-2005 I bought the computer I'm currently using. If I recall correctly, this was before dual core processors were available or else they were prohibitively expensive. I decided to go with a 64-bit processor (AMD Athlon 64 3500+) for that "improved" performance.

Once all my computer parts arrived and the PC was built I very quickly found out that nothing had really been designed for 64-bit CPUs and I was actually an early-ish adopter! To me it felt like the CPU was wasted because though there was Windows XP 64-bit, there were virtually no drivers and no software designed for 64-bit architecture. I was forced to "downgrade" from XP64 to regular old XP just to get my hardware to work.

Now it's 2.5 years later and there's Vista 64-bit, with more drivers, but I still don't see much benefit of a 64-bit system other than the potential to use more than 4GB of RAM. And while the idea of >4GB of RAM is indeed a dreamy dream, I've got 2GB and I'm doing just fine with that.

To get back to the question: Is it worth it to get a 64-bit CPU or would you be better off looking for multicore processors? Or both? Is there really any actual, present, and noticeable benefit in using a 64-bit CPU?

mouser:
f0dder seems to be the resident expert here, and i don't know much about hardware.
but my basic understanding is that all of the new cpu's are 64bit.

the question is not whether to get a 64bit cpu, everything you buy now, all the dual cores, etc., they are all 64bit cpus.
the question is whether to try to use a 64bit native operating system with your new cpu.
there doesn't yet seem to be much reason to do so.

ChrisB257:
Hi - noob here .......... the thing I'd be concerned about is software compatibility .... seeing as when from back in the old days of my old DX4-66 I ran any and all 16 bit app's just fine.  Over time and by time I got up to P4 and XP etc ... one of my fave old app's (Autosketch v2) ...... no go.

So - just thinking ahead as to whether 64 bit will limit any current app's.

mwb1100:
As Mouser said - you'd have to go out of your way to get a processor that was not 64-bit capable.  In my opinion, unless you know you need the large amount of memory that 64-bit enables, or you want to be on the technology cutting edge there's no reason to install a 64-bit OS.

However, dual-core is definitely worth it.

Carol Haynes:
Don't think there are backward compatability issues with 64 bit CPUs at least none that I have noticed (you can still install 32 bit OSes, not sure about 16 bits OSes though).

There are two huge advantage to using 64 bit CPUs -


* you can buy them easily
* they will be a lot cheaper than 32 bit CPUs (even if you can find any)
Realistically are there any motherboards still available out there that still support 32 bit CPUs? You may find the odd one left over in a shop or in a sale online but you will be hard pressed to find any that are still being made.

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