What kind of problems can I expect with a 64 bit system?

Question

I always hear people warn 64-bit users of "software incompatibility" and other such vague terms. I am installing 64-bit vista and as far as I can tell, all modern programs support it. VLC, iTunes, Steam, Adobe, Open Office, all modern games, all support 64-bit. Am I missing something or is 64-bit really very harmless?? Where are these phantom 64-bit hating programs I keep hearing about? I know that older software isn't compatible, but beyond that, what else is there to be worried about?

PS: This is a real question, I just worded it in a somewhat inflammatory fashion, so sorry ;)

Answer 1

You will suffer with increased stability, the ability to use more then 3.5Gb of RAM, and less down time. 64 bit sucks.



(I'm kidding....been running XP Pro 64 bit for 4 years now...it's great)

Answer 2

The problem isn't with a 64-bit system, but with a 64 bit operating system. A 64-bit processor can run anything and if you install a regular Windows XP (32-bit) you will never ever hear a bip from the computer.



The issue is with a 64-bit operating system. Normally if you install (for example) Windows XP 64-bit edition (aside from the fact it only has SP1 and it's been unsupported for a long time), it will always complain about 32-bit applications as being incompatible.



If you run Vista 64-bit, you won't have any problems whatsoever. Vista will warn you every now and then that you are trying to run 32-bit programs, but it runs those with a compatibility layer so you won't notice anything.



I have been running Vista Home PRemium 64-bit and I can tell you that I have never encountered incompatibilities due to 32/64 bit differences. I have even been running old DOS games (like the X-Com series) without a complaint.

Answer 3

16-bit software is not able to run on a 64-bit platform. Vista uses a type of 32-bit emulator to run 32-bit software. Unless you are running programs the dinosaurs used, you're fine.

Answer 4

Since 64-bit HW & OS is capable of running 32-bit software, there shouldn't be many, if any issues.

Answer 5

From what i have heard 64 bit seems to be fairly compatible. Plus you can use more ram than 32 bit and its more stable. Ive also heard its faster.



Here is a compatibility test using some older programs. It did quite well:

7-zip Works Link

AMD Opteron™ Processor PowerNow! Driver 1.2.2.0 - 1.2.2.1 Untested Untested as yet. Link

AnyDVD 5.0 BETA Works mixture 32 bit software, 64 bit drivers. Link

Asus Probe III 64-bit ?? Works downloaded from asus

Avast 4 Works Tested by Shivan Link

avast! antivirus 4.6 Works Link

Cakewalk Sonar x64 ? Untested Untested as yet. Link

Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay ? Works Works like a charm, seems a little faster then 32-bit Link

CINEBENCH ? Works The applications themself work fully, only where it comes to the use of external libraries and codecs limitations apply. Link

CINEMA 4D R9 Works The applications themself work fully, only where it comes to the use of external libraries and codecs limitations apply. Link

CloneCD 5.2 BETA Works mixture 32 bit software, 64 bit drivers. Link

CloneDVD 2.8 BETA Works mixture 32 bit software, 64 bit drivers. Link

CommTraffic v2.1 2.1 Works Untested as yet. Link

CommView for WiFi v5.0 5 Works Untested as yet. Link

CommView v5.0 5 Works Untested as yet. Link

Daemon Tools 4.01HE Works Works like a charm Link

DigiSecret Lite v2.0 2 Works Untested as yet. Link

DigiSecret Pro v2.0 2 Works Untested as yet. Link

Essential NetTools v3.2 3.2 Works Untested as yet. Link

Etrust anti-virus software. Works Link

Far Cry x64 Works Tested by Richard Henderson Link

Firefox 20050123 Works 64 bit Firefox 20050501 works fine, using normal firefox extensions fine. Also need to add your own shortcuts as currently isn't using an installer (thanx to Tarby and John Stanley) Link

Firestreamer-RM Works Backup Software Link

Logitech SetPoint unknown Untested Untested as yet. Link

NOD32 anti-virus 2.51.8 Works Untested as yet. Link

NOD32 v2.50.20 beta 2.50.20 Beta Works Reported working, has some issues. i.e. context menu items are not available. IMON only works with the 32 bit version of IE. Link

O&O Defrag V8.0 Professional Edition 8 (x64 edition) Works The standard 32-bit won't work Link

O&O Defrag V8.0 Server Edition 8 Untested Untested as yet. Link

PeerGuardian 2 2 Untested Untested as yet. Link

PeerGuardian 2 2 Works

PHP 4.3.11 ISAPI/Interpreter Modules 4.3.11 Untested Untested as yet.

Process Explorer (x64 version) Works reports an error when starting: 'The version of Dbghelp.dll configured does not support the Microsoft Symbol Server' http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx After clicking ok, the program starts.

Process Explorer 9.03 9.03 Untested Untested as yet. Link

Realtech OpenGL extension viewer 2.16 Works

Shadow Ops: Red mercury ? Untested Untested as yet.

Sisoft Sandra 2005 Untested Untested as yet. Link

SmartWhois v4.0 4 Works Untested as yet. Link

Software995 ?? Works Link

Speedfan 4.23 Untested Untested as yet. Link

Speedfan 4.25 Works No problems Link

Squeez 5 (compression program) 5 Works Works perfectly, with 64-bit context menus Link

Sun Java Virtual Machine RC1 Works

Sun JRE 5.0 Update 5 5.0 Works "Windows AMD64 Platform - J2SE(TM) Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 5" Link

Symantec Antivirus ?? Works Reported working.

Sysinternals Filemon 6.13 Untested Untested as yet. Link

Sysinternals Regmon 6.12 Untested Untested as yet. Link

Tiny firewall pro 6.5 Works

TweakUI 6? Works Seems to be an Old IA64 version, dated 2001, adjusted for AMD64 (coming from M$ Beta site) Link

Unreal Tournament 2004 2004 Works

Virtual CloneDrive 5.1 BETA Not Working mixture 32 bit software, 64 bit drivers. Link

VirtualDub 1.6.4 Works

WindowBlinds 4.51 Works smoother transition from theme to theme than native windows themes (thanx to Grant) Link

Windows BestCrypt 7 Works Encryption software Link

Winimage 7.0 Works

Winimage 7.0e.7009 Works works well and the free virtual CD works without any configuaration for uncompressed ISO and BIN.