2^6 baby! (64 bit discussion)

[DAve]

I've just gone and upgraded. Yeah, the bug bit again.
I'll be going from a Athlon XP 2200+ to a Athlon-64 3000+ at the weekend, when I have some time to install the mobo and CPU.

Is there any point in updating windows from the bog-standard 32 bit edition to the 64 bit edition? I gather there won't be a performance upgrade just from going form 32->64 bits in windows, but is there any apps that will run better in 64 bit mode?

PS. I plan to update Gentoo Linux to the 64 bit version, just because it's the geekier half of the computer. My experimental half.
/me evillaughs

[Fyndir]

Is there any point in updating windows from the bog-standard 32 bit edition to the 64 bit edition? I gather there won't be a performance upgrade just from going form 32->64 bits in windows, but is there any apps that will run better in 64 bit mode?


IF I remember right Steam released an update to allow it to function better with 64-bit, but I have no idea what else does.

[Bluepixie]

Good stuff! Thats going to give your machine a real kick in the pants! :)

As far as I know, 64-bit Windows is not really worth it. It causes problems with 32-bit apps and doesn't really have much 64-bit programs that can take advantage of it. Only thing I would consider it for is FarCry which has a fantastic 64-bit patch to make it look even better.

*shrugs

Stick with 32-bit for now though I reckon.

[DAve]

Stick with 32-bit for now though I reckon.
OK, will do. I'll see if there's any noticable difference running 64 bit linux first. I really don't want to go and start searching for drivers for 5 year old cards. Nightmare.

Cheers, guys.

PS. I still haven't installed the new CPU, I decided to watch Pirates of the Caribbean with my wife instead. It'll get installed at the weekend when I have some time :)

[YegaDoyai]

yea, everything I've read about the 64bit support for games indicates stability lies in the 32bit realm

[Strings]

Heard some cool things about apps and games that DO support Windows 64. But aye it's too much hassle considering how many problems can come along with it. Drivers especially.

So just hurry up and get that new mobo and chip installed Dave.

[YegaDoyai]

64bit patch for FarCry = great how? speed improvement is in the 5% margin and it is less stable as it needs windows 64 which has shoddy drivers. Wait for Vista.

[DAve]

I've nowgot the motherboard and CPU installed. I'm now part of teh 64 bit revolution, baby!

After a lot of sweary-words I got it done. Problems encountered include:
1)the hard drive sat directly over the IDE port - it's now in the 5 1/2 bay
2)the motherboard backplate was different - local computer shop was v. helpful, salvaging a backplate off a broken PC.
3) cabling is an absolute nightmare. Airflow should be OK though.

Hmm, doesn't feel too much different. I'm in the process of benchmarking at the mo, more later.

[DAve]

I'm in the process of benchmarking at the mo, more later.
Benchmarks follow: From an upgrade from an Athlon 2200+ (Thoroughbread) to a Athlon 64 3000+ (Newcastle, socklet 754); Graphics card stays the same -- 6800LE unlocked from 8 to 12 pipelines and 4 to 6 vertex units.

Score-> 2200+ 3000+ %gain
Application
-----------

Super Pi(1M) 67 50 32%

3DMark03 7649 8596 12%
-CPU1 test 44.4 81.5 84%
-CPU2 test 8.5 12.0 42%

3DMark05 3080 3365 9.25%

Aquamark 37864 49598 31%
-GFX test 6039 7344 22%
-CPU test 5072 7638 51%

Overall, I'm very happy. I tried playing LiveForSpeed today, it's like playing a different game. Draw distances right up there.

Of course, it could be I actually just put the "AA" option from 0 to 2Q in the NVidia graphics options. I'll have to fire up BF2 to check. ;)

[Bluepixie]

Thats looking good man! I want to see some shit hot lap times out of you by the next LAN! :)

[Bluepixie]

64bit patch for FarCry = great how? speed improvement is in the 5% margin and it is less stable as it needs windows 64 which has shoddy drivers. Wait for Vista.

Visuals ONLY. Didn't say anything about speed or stablity.