64bit CPU/MBs

Judg3 · Post by **Judg3** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 1:46 pm

Is it worth going 64bit now, or should I wait until Win XP 64bit comes out of beta? I'm planning on saving up for a new machine - and was thinking of going 64bit, but since Windows XP only has a beta of the 64bit version, I don't know if it's worth getting it now. I might just wait until it's officially released and then get everything - any thoughts?

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 1:50 pm

Thinking about this too. But decided I'd just get a new mobo and Barton instead. I can't see dishing out $350+ for the combo right now. I'm sure we'll see prices on them drop before too long and once they're more affordable I'll think about it. heh..

Judg3 · Post by **Judg3** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 1:58 pm

Exactly - your in my spot too hehe. I don't want to pick up a barton + board if I'm just going to upgrade in a year or so - and I don't want to go 64bit now because Win XP isn't 64bit, I don't really want to run the beta XP, and I don't know if the 32bit XP on a 64bit system emulating a 32bit system will have any performance/stability issues.

Then there's the whole slew of other things - like application compatibility, etc that I worry about (Though I think that even with a 64bit XP, I'll be able to run 32bit applications - but since everything will be 32bit, is it worth it? And would games suffer a serious performance hit running in a 64bit system vs the 32bit system).

There's so many questions.... Maybe I will just stick with 32bit... But I'm not one to upgrade a whole lot - usually every 2-3 years or so. I need to build myself a new PC though, me and the wife are sharing the one I built for her, my other ones are servers I can't really use a whole lot lest I destroy their stability, and I sold my old p3 1ghz box.

sethpa · Post by **sethpa** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:04 pm

Not to mention that the current 64 bit mobos will be outdated in just a few months, when the new socket configuration hits the streets.

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:17 pm

what you guys don't get is you shouldn't even Care about 64 bit. the athlon64 is faster then any other chip in 32 bit so who cares about 64 bit...besides the fact that it is ready for it.

Greg

sethpa · Post by **sethpa** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:59 pm

Still worth waiting a couple months for the new mobos

VidmanII · Post by **VidmanII** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 10:05 pm

I just finished up a gradual upgrade that I hope will last me a year or so. I'm gonna wait on all the 1st gen hardware horror stories and take a look at the 64-bit stuff late in the year or early next.

TruckStuff · Post by **TruckStuff** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:42 pm

Originally posted by Judg3
Exactly - your in my spot too hehe. I don't want to pick up a barton + board if I'm just going to upgrade in a year or so - and I don't want to go 64bit now because Win XP isn't 64bit, I don't really want to run the beta XP, and I don't know if the 32bit XP on a 64bit system emulating a 32bit system will have any performance/stability issues.

Then there's the whole slew of other things - like application compatibility, etc that I worry about (Though I think that even with a 64bit XP, I'll be able to run 32bit applications - but since everything will be 32bit, is it worth it? And would games suffer a serious performance hit running in a 64bit system vs the 32bit system).

There's so many questions.... Maybe I will just stick with 32bit... But I'm not one to upgrade a whole lot - usually every 2-3 years or so. I need to build myself a new PC though, me and the wife are sharing the one I built for her, my other ones are servers I can't really use a whole lot lest I destroy their stability, and I sold my old p3 1ghz box.

Why drop the $$$ on 64bit when there isn't any software for it yet? We're considering getting a 64bit rig at work for our render farm, but that's only because the rendering software runs on 64bit unix and we know there is a 64bit version of the software in the works. Right now 64bit seems like flushing money to me.

Besides lets be honest: there is VERY little software out there (at any time) that requires the latest and greatest hardware. Half-life 2 and UT2k4 will both run on 32bit, so what's the point? Other than bragging rights, I mean.

rogue · Post by **rogue** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:20 pm

I'll go 64 when theres actually stuff written for it

VidmanII · Post by **VidmanII** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 4:58 pm

I agree, you're better off getting a mobile 2400+ or 2600+ and a good 2nd or 3rd revison mobo . Both those cpu's have Barton cores and are unlocked. Not to mention the fact that they run @ 1.45v default vcore!! People are getting 2.5GHz on air cooling with those, with a little added voltage and lowering the multi and raising the FSB to 200+.

I just ordered an XP-M 2600+ today to play with.

Judg3 · Post by **Judg3** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 7:21 pm

True true - very good points, all of you. Perhaps I will just go with 32bit. Even if I keep it for a few years, it'll still have plenty of programs to run on it - so it's a done deal.

Not to mention on newegg the price for a retail XP 3200+ Barton is only $215 - a LOT cheaper then the 400$+ I saw a few months ago hehe.

Is AMD coming out with any newer 32bit procs now? 3400+ etc? Just curious, as I'd love to learn I have an upgrade path still (processor wise) with a 32bit platform. I need to try to remember the upgrade path in the future, got my wife a system and dropped in an XP 2100, but the max it'll hold is a 2400+. Not much of a point in a 300mhz diffrence and all hehe.

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 8:01 pm

you guys really shoudnt look at it as 32 vs 64. its more like lower end vs higher end. I mean comon its faster in 32bit stuff then any other chip out there. 64bit extentions are just the icing on the cake.

new nvidia chipset for A64 comming out soon btw.

Greg

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 10:38 pm

im gonna just wait out the PCIX and see what happens... if video cards go that way and what not then ill make the jump to the next level. For now ill stick to my 2500 @ 3200 speeds. 200x11

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64bit CPU/MBs

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