Need advise for new computer

Hi! I need some advise here before I buy a new computer. I'm not sure to stay with win xp 32-bit or go for vista 64-bit. As I know vista is not stable, I'm not sure if I should go for it.

Intel Pentium Quad Core Q9450
Asus P5Q Deluxe P45
Evga 8800GT 512mb O/C
Kingston HyperX DDR2 1066 4GB

I know with vista I can fully utilize the 4gb of ram on quad core but I'm not sure if it will use up lots of memory if I opt for multiple clients and some 3d applications together. If vista is not stable for SL with the above specs... I think I will stay with win xp and 2gb of ram instead. Please help.

32 bit will do 4 gig

Kia, as I said last night in my PM to you, I would stay away from any 64 bit operating system for now. There just is not enough out there to utililize that potential.......one day, yeah, but not right now. Hardware manufacturers (including video card manufacturers) are not properly supporting 64 bit systems........who can blame them? There just isn't the demand for it. You have potential headaches obtaining drivers that work properly (or at all). Yeah Vista 64 can recognize up to 8 gigs of RAM...........but Vista 32 can recognize 4 gigs. And, Microslft is going to bring another operating system in 2010......it probably will be better than Vista (MS learned a lot with the problems they encountered with Vista). By the time MS does bring out "Windows 7" 64 bit operating systems may have more support from manufacturers.

Stick with XP 32 bit till then. Or go with Vista 32 if you just want a new operating system. Vista 32 is stable. Driver support is pretty much up to par........matches XP in that catagory. Vista is a memory hog but if you turn off most or all of the glitzy crap it's not too much worse than XP. For SL XP with 2 gigs of RAM or Vista 32 with 3 gigs of RAM should run as smooth and trouble free as any computer. The nVidia 8800 is an excellent card.........for both XP and Vista.

It must be something wrong with the pm system, I didn't get any new pm... I was waiting for windows 7 but i couldn't wait any longer, so i'll just grab a new com. Thanks for the advise.

Check with the computer manufacturer and see if there is an option to upgrade to 64-bit Windows. I know you can with the retail version of Vista for shipping cost from Microsoft.

With most computers now being 64-bit systems, and software always eating up more and more memory, Vista x64 will be mainstream soon. Amost certainly before the next version of Windows is ready for prime time. It would be nice to know if an inexpensive upgrade path is there for you.


4GB total, that includes the video memory and any other hardware that requires memory address space. A 32 bit OS can't give you the entire 4GB as system memory.

Heya,

In addition to Mila's post.

You are very correct about the x64 OS's. In about 6 months almost all programs will be created to run with x64 only, as almost 100% of all bought PC's in the UK and US are 64bit compatible.

If you think about it, Microsoft have been playing with the market for some time over the past 2 years, while developing the new Windows Vienna. It is said to be released in early/mid 2009. At this point if you still do not have a x64 compatible system you are far behind the curve and will end up having little or no support for your system.

The benefits of having the x64 now is that it will be far more compatible with new updates and release of software e.g. All Adobe software. If you still think that Vista is full of bugs, again, you are far behind the curve, Vista has become very stable over the past 6 months and is very useful indeed.
For the average PC user the extra security, help and constant updates all make it one of the easiest versions of windows to date.
It is true that alot of the more commercial based computers will probably be running on an old (yes OLD) x86 OS but they will be 64bit ready... does that not tell you something?

Well I hope you find that addition to Mila's post helpful haha ^^

I think you are a little optimistic about that 6 months. Yeah almost every processor made today is 64 bit. But 32 bit software will be around for a while yet.........so I would ot jump to quickly. I don't believe a substainial number of 64 bit software programs will be available until sometime near 2010 when Microsoft releases it's next operating system (so far it's named Windows 7).

Driver support for 64 bit systems is miserable at this time. The reason is pretty simple. There is not a large market for drivers that are 64 bit. That will change I'm sure.........in 2010.

It is names windows Vienna at present btw. Windows 7 = it is the 7th version of windows.

Believe me, I work in the IT industry, what i said is true. My company owns 80% of the ICT market in the UK, thats roughly 35 million people..

I know that it seems like there is not alot of 64bit compatible software, but infact it is because the hardware behind it isn't really designed for 64bit systems. Especially mobo's and VGA cards.

Just wait a while, atleast between 6 mknths and a year if you would like it to be more precise. They will release bundles of 64 bit software with or just before Vienna

64 bit is acting ok for me, I have an intel x86/64 processor. it's behaving perfectly running Vista home premium SP1.

I've never heard of Window Vienna. I would think there would be some noise out there about Microsoft having an operating system that is later than Vista.........even if it is only offered in Europe. And "Windows 7" is still in developement........not even released for beta testing. Not here, and I'm sure, not anywhere.

64 bit is going to be the architecture of the future.......but not in 6 months. It probably might be a little more popular in a year. But not widespread until the largest software developer in the world makes it happen. I say that will be in 2010.

Vista 32 bit cannot use 4 Gigs of system memory although with the latest major update to Vista it will report the amount of memory there is installed in the motherboard instead of what it can be used.

64 bit OS offer some benefits but no earth shattering increases in performance for the most part. Yes, system memory can be expanded to ungodly levels compared to 32bit's 3.2 gig limit but since 64 bit means more information needs to be pushed around, it will take 8gigs of system memory to outperform 32bit in most applications.

64bit offers much better stability

also, the increased paging file allows FOR earth-shattering performance. if you don't believe me, that's up to you, but I know MY 64 bit pc can out do a 32bit under the same specs any day

@Spork Yifu:

Thanks for the offer in your offline pm
I'm not from UK, if that's what you think I'm in Asia, so it's impossible to let you get the computer assembled. Thanks anyway.

~cheers!

And thanks to everyone whom had added their opinions. I would like to know how much memory (ram) does it use for 64-bit vista if compare with 32 bit without sl on?

As far as I know Vista needs about 1 gig of RAM no matter if 32 bit or 64 bit. 64 bit Vista is just grabbing twice the bits as Vista 32..........which, in theory, makes it twice as fast. But it's still using the same memory. Most software is still 32 bit so you won't see that added speed on those programs..............SL being one such program.

Vista's 32 bit version will only address ~3.2-3.5GB RAM. That number could be less depending on the specific components, but 3.2-3.5 is the average amount.

With Vista x64, not only will it address the full 4GB (Vista x86 SP1 will show the full 4GB, but it is not able to use it all), but if you run any 64 bit programs, they'll be able to address more than 2GB RAM (32 bit programs are limited to addressing 2GB of RAM).

As part of the Vista WHQL driver certification process, the hardware company is required to release both 32 bit and 64 bit drivers. Therefore, if there is a 32 bit WHQL certified driver for Vista, there is a 64 bit counterpart. Almost any new device that you buy today will have a 64 bit driver available.

Vista x64 is not twice as fast as Vista x86. Nor does Vista x64 use twice as much RAM as Vista x86. It has been shown that Vista x64 uses about 200-300MB more RAM in day to day use than its 32 bit counterpart, however, considering that the OP will be able to address the full 4GB, the OP will be better off.

Vista x64 and x86 are just as stable. Neither is more stable than the other (one could argue that x64's requirement for signed drivers increases stability, but in reality, as long as you're careful about the drivers you install, you won't notice a difference).

OP: Go with Vista x64. I've been using it for six months now, and the only x64 specific problem I have encountered is my Ralink RT61 wireless cards x64 driver not liking >4GB RAM, which causes the occasional system halt (during very specific tasks).

The thing is, Second Life is a 32 bit program so all the RAM in the world doesn't mean Second Life will get to use it, regardless of the OS. On 64 bit Vista, SL will still run in a 32 bit subsystem and as such only see 2GB of RAM.

Having said that though, as others have stated, depending on your hardware components, on a 32 bit OS you are limited to 2GB of physical ram for *all* applications to share and 2GB for the operating system to use for low level components such as kernel mode drivers and resources. So with 4GB of RAM, you might wind up wasting a little bit on a 32 bit system.

The benfit of a 64 bit system is scalability. If you add more RAM, you won't have to worry that the OS can't handle it. And even though SL is still limited to 2GB of memory, it won't be competing as much for the physical memory with other applications.

And driver support for 64 bit Vista is not bad. Windows Update got all the drivers on my HP Media Center PC which came with Vista 32 bit. I use 64 bit Vista and I have no problems and Second Life was running at full speed while I was installing Windows Server and Ubuntu Linux in two running virtual machines. I also have 8GB of RAM and a Core 2 Quad CPU but Vista 32 bit would have bottlenecked.

correction: SL can se about 3.5gb of ram on a 4gb system, and yes, it WILL use it.

as seen BY SL

CPU: Intel Core 2 Series Processor (2199 MHz)
Memory: 3839 MB
OS Version: Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (Build 6001)
Graphics Card Vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
Graphics Card: GeForce 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i/PCI/SSE2
OpenGL Version: 2.1.2

I hate it when people who think they know computers try and out smart me lol... Ok here is proof it is called Vienne, It is a google search for Windows Vienne... please don't try and argue the case, Vista is Windows (6) Vista... So you are right it is the 7th MS windows to be brought out but it IS called Vienna, for now =D The name could be changed at a later date, but the project is known as Windows Vienna... Remember I work for the bigges IT support in England... I know my stuff

Neowin.net - Windows Vienna to follow VistaWindows Vienna is the new codename for Windows Blackcomb the successor to Windows Vista. Not much is known about Blackcomb officially and Microsoft is not ...
www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=32095 - 136k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Windows 7 (Vienna) Screenshots. Fake or Real?We know that after Windows Vista, now Microsoft has its major focus on the next upcoming version of Windows family of OS ie Windows 7 which is known by the ...
www.sizlopedia.com/2007/12/17/windows-7-vienna-screenshots-fake-or-real/ - 39k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Microsoft Windows Vienna / Windows 7Now that Vista is on the shelves, Microsoft is focusing on its next major operating system release, Windows Vienna. Even though Windows Vienna is going to ...
www.windowsvienna.com/ - 23k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Windows 7 screenshots are they true?????16 Dec 2007 ... Windows-Vienna-TextLogo Their are some of the screenshots floating around on online forums, purports to be from an alpha of Windows 7. ...
techtoday.110mb.com/2007/12/16/windows-7-screenshots-are-they-true/ - 36k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

top Software: Vienna Transformation Pack 1.222/04/08. Vienna Transformation Pack 1.2. Il transforment votre Windows XP\Vista à nouveau Windows Vienne (date officielle 2009 de dégagement). Download : ...
123-logiciels.blogspot.com/2008/04/vienna-transformation-pack-12.html - 57k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Vienna to softly embrace Linux - ZDNet.co.uk25 Jan 2005 ... The Austrian capital city of Vienna's local government is due to start migrating its ... As OpenOffice.org runs on Windows as well as Linux, ...
news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39185440,00.htm - 122k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

I hate it when people who think they know computers try and out smart me lol... Ok here is proof it is called Vienne, It is a google search for Windows Vienne... please don't try and argue the case, Vista is Windows (6) Vista... So you are right it is the 7th MS windows to be brought out but it IS called Vienna, for now =D The name could be changed at a later date, but the project is known as Windows Vienna... Remember I work for the biggest IT supports in England... I know my stuff. Other names that have sprung up, as you can see is Windows Blackcomb... which... sounds rather tacky.. i do prefer Vienna

Neowin.net - Windows Vienna to follow VistaWindows Vienna is the new codename for Windows Blackcomb the successor to Windows Vista. Not much is known about Blackcomb officially and Microsoft is not ...
www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=32095 - 136k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Windows 7 (Vienna) Screenshots. Fake or Real?We know that after Windows Vista, now Microsoft has its major focus on the next upcoming version of Windows family of OS ie Windows 7 which is known by the ...
www.sizlopedia.com/2007/12/17/windows-7-vienna-screenshots-fake-or-real/ - 39k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Microsoft Windows Vienna / Windows 7Now that Vista is on the shelves, Microsoft is focusing on its next major operating system release, Windows Vienna. Even though Windows Vienna is going to ...
www.windowsvienna.com/ - 23k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Windows 7 screenshots are they true?????16 Dec 2007 ... Windows-Vienna-TextLogo Their are some of the screenshots floating around on online forums, purports to be from an alpha of Windows 7. ...
techtoday.110mb.com/2007/12/16/windows-7-screenshots-are-they-true/ - 36k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

top Software: Vienna Transformation Pack 1.222/04/08. Vienna Transformation Pack 1.2. Il transforment votre Windows XP\Vista à nouveau Windows Vienne (date officielle 2009 de dégagement). Download : ...
123-logiciels.blogspot.com/2008/04/vienna-transformation-pack-12.html - 57k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Vienna to softly embrace Linux - ZDNet.co.uk25 Jan 2005 ... The Austrian capital city of Vienna's local government is due to start migrating its ... As OpenOffice.org runs on Windows as well as Linux, ...
news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39185440,00.htm - 122k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

You keep looking stupid we're all going to try, and some of us will succeed.

It was originally called blackcomb, that name was later checked to Vienna, BUT it is COMMONLY known throughout the tech world as Windows 7. this statement cancels out the code names, and cuts right to the chase, and also avoids confusion. "windows7.com" exists you know..

the #1 advantage of 64 bit, as far as my knowlege goes. core 2, core 3, core 4... etc.. SL will run all of these as set by Vista, and it WILL perform much faster than a mono-core x86 pc. my 2.20 dc runs like a 4.9ghz mono-core, as reported by many sites that scan hardware. 4.9, I have 2 2.20 cores in my pc. that's a BIG boost, and I can only imagine what a phenom reads as, I'd be interested to see.

I'm still looking for this and that. If I change to vista (i'm tempted to) I need to get a new router =/ coz mine is a Origo 4 port router, I couldn't get the driver or go to it's webby as it doesn't exists anymore. Anyone knows if there is vista driver for this modem?

it's an external modem, it will work with ANY os. you just have to set upany configurations manually. all you need to worry about is the ethernet driver. Modems have their own firmware. just like I don't need a special driver to plug my PSP into my PC, just the PC's US driver works, because the PSP has its own firmware. it'll work fine.

Just because SL reports the RAM doesn't mean it can use it. 32 bit Windows limits user mode physical memory to 2GB and depending on your hardware even that might not be completely accessible to user mode apps. Search for a guy named Mark Russinovich. I'm on my stupid iPhone so I can't paste the URL but he has an excellent blog post detailing memory architechture in Windows. It's his latest post.

"SL will still run in a 32 bit subsystem and as such only see 2GB of RAM."


now you change your story, mr. Expert?
and Microsoft said Vista sees 4GB of user-mode memory can be seen and used. Now what do you have to say about that? not as much of an expert as you say are you?