Buy a new copy of Windows Vista or a new computer today, and you’ll have a decision to make: Should you go for the 64-bit version of Windows Vista, or the 32-bit version?
We’ve all been using various 32-bit versions of Windows for years now, but clearly the future belongs to 64-bit computing. What do you need to know before you get a jump on destiny? Here are some answers.
Q: Why would I want to run 64-bit Windows?
A: You’ll get access to more system memory. The 32-bit versions of Windows — Vista and XP — can access a maximum of 4 gigabytes (GB) of system memory. In practice, however, some of that system memory is reserved for the operating system and other processes, so your applications end up with significantly less. It’s not uncommon for a computer with 4 GB of memory installed to have only 3 GB available once the operating system and other processes stake their claim to the memory.
While 3 GB may have seemed like a lot of memory a few years ago, today all you need to do is run a memory-hungry photo program, load a half-dozen large files, and you could be pushing the limits of your installed memory.
The 64-bit version of Windows Vista can access much more than 4 GB of RAM. Vista Ultimate, Enterprise, and Business can access 128 GB of RAM. Home Premium can access 16 GB, while Home Basic will max out at 8 GB.
Having the ability to access more memory in your computer gives you a couple of advantages. First, you can load more applications and more files within those applications. Second, your overall computing experience should be smoother, since swapping from one application to another will hopefully take place in memory and not rely on caching data to the hard…