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#1
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64-bit software on 32-bit hardware
Can anyone please tell me if 64-bit software will run on
32-bit hardware ? I've googled for this but while there's plenty of information on compatibility of 64-bit CPUs with 32-bit software, I couldn't find any satisfactory treatment of the opposite case. I understand that things are still in the development stage and that it may be difficult to give a clear-cut answer, but I'll be grateful for some indications. The reason I'm asking is that I (and probably thousands of others) want to buy a new computer now, but either do not want to or cannot afford to invest in a 64-bit machine right now. But many of us have to hang on to the same machine (albeit with some upgrades) for at least a few years and we wouldn't want to be stuck with something that will be totally incapable of running 64-bit games and apps that will be released in the foreseeable future. I know a lot of people who are quite happily playing today's games on their 4-year old Pentium 3s by adding more RAM and newer graphics cards. Will the situation be quite different when most new games and other software have adopted the 64-bit platform ? |
#2
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"Amiman" wrote in message
... " Can anyone please tell me if 64-bit software will run on 32-bit hardware ? " It won't. |
#3
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Amiman wrote: Can anyone please tell me if 64-bit software will run on 32-bit hardware ? It won't run. I've googled for this but while there's plenty of information on compatibility of 64-bit CPUs with 32-bit software, I couldn't find any satisfactory treatment of the opposite case. I understand that things are still in the development stage and that it may be difficult to give a clear-cut answer, but I'll be grateful for some indications. The reason I'm asking is that I (and probably thousands of others) want to buy a new computer now, but either do not want to or cannot afford to invest in a 64-bit machine right now. But many of us have to hang on to the same machine (albeit with some upgrades) for at least a few years and we wouldn't want to be stuck with something that will be totally incapable of running 64-bit games and apps that will be released in the foreseeable future. It will be a few years before 64 bit OSs become common and a few years after that before 64 bit applications become common. I know a lot of people who are quite happily playing today's games on their 4-year old Pentium 3s by adding more RAM and newer graphics cards. Will the situation be quite different when most new games and other software have adopted the 64-bit platform ? -- Mike Walsh West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A. |
#4
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"Mike Walsh" wrote in message ... Amiman wrote: Can anyone please tell me if 64-bit software will run on 32-bit hardware ? It won't run. The reason I'm asking is that I (and probably thousands of others) want to buy a new computer now, but either do not want to or cannot afford to invest in a 64-bit machine right now. But many of us have to hang on to the same machine (albeit with some upgrades) for at least a few years and we wouldn't want to be stuck with something that will be totally incapable of running 64-bit games and apps that will be released in the foreseeable future. It will be a few years before 64 bit OSs become common and a few years after that before 64 bit applications become common. Thanks. With current games and apps, what kind of difference in performance should be expected between an Athlon XP 2600+ on an nForce2 motherboard and an AMD64 2800+ on a K8V mobo, all other things being equal ? |
#5
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Not designed to work that way.
-- DaveW "Amiman" wrote in message ... Can anyone please tell me if 64-bit software will run on 32-bit hardware ? I've googled for this but while there's plenty of information on compatibility of 64-bit CPUs with 32-bit software, I couldn't find any satisfactory treatment of the opposite case. I understand that things are still in the development stage and that it may be difficult to give a clear-cut answer, but I'll be grateful for some indications. The reason I'm asking is that I (and probably thousands of others) want to buy a new computer now, but either do not want to or cannot afford to invest in a 64-bit machine right now. But many of us have to hang on to the same machine (albeit with some upgrades) for at least a few years and we wouldn't want to be stuck with something that will be totally incapable of running 64-bit games and apps that will be released in the foreseeable future. I know a lot of people who are quite happily playing today's games on their 4-year old Pentium 3s by adding more RAM and newer graphics cards. Will the situation be quite different when most new games and other software have adopted the 64-bit platform ? |
#6
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On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 14:52:31 +0000, Mike Walsh wrote:
Amiman wrote: Can anyone please tell me if 64-bit software will run on 32-bit hardware ? It won't run. I've googled for this but while there's plenty of information on compatibility of 64-bit CPUs with 32-bit software, I couldn't find any satisfactory treatment of the opposite case. I understand that things are still in the development stage and that it may be difficult to give a clear-cut answer, but I'll be grateful for some indications. The reason I'm asking is that I (and probably thousands of others) want to buy a new computer now, but either do not want to or cannot afford to invest in a 64-bit machine right now. But many of us have to hang on to the same machine (albeit with some upgrades) for at least a few years and we wouldn't want to be stuck with something that will be totally incapable of running 64-bit games and apps that will be released in the foreseeable future. It will be a few years before 64 bit OSs become common and a few years after that before 64 bit applications become common. What are you talking about? 64 Bit Linux has been available years. I'm running 64 bit Fedora Core 3 on my Compaq R3000z, it works great. |
#7
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I am talking about windows, which is the common OS. General Schvantzkoph wrote: On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 14:52:31 +0000, Mike Walsh wrote: It will be a few years before 64 bit OSs become common and a few years after that before 64 bit applications become common. What are you talking about? 64 Bit Linux has been available years. I'm running 64 bit Fedora Core 3 on my Compaq R3000z, it works great. -- Mike Walsh West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A. |
#8
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I am talking about non-server windows, which is the common OS. General Schvantzkoph wrote: On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 14:52:31 +0000, Mike Walsh wrote: It will be a few years before 64 bit OSs become common and a few years after that before 64 bit applications become common. What are you talking about? 64 Bit Linux has been available years. I'm running 64 bit Fedora Core 3 on my Compaq R3000z, it works great. -- Mike Walsh West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A. |
#9
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"General Schvantzkoph" wrote in message
news On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 14:52:31 +0000, Mike Walsh wrote: Amiman wrote: Can anyone please tell me if 64-bit software will run on 32-bit hardware ? It won't run. I've googled for this but while there's plenty of information on compatibility of 64-bit CPUs with 32-bit software, I couldn't find any satisfactory treatment of the opposite case. I understand that things are still in the development stage and that it may be difficult to give a clear-cut answer, but I'll be grateful for some indications. The reason I'm asking is that I (and probably thousands of others) want to buy a new computer now, but either do not want to or cannot afford to invest in a 64-bit machine right now. But many of us have to hang on to the same machine (albeit with some upgrades) for at least a few years and we wouldn't want to be stuck with something that will be totally incapable of running 64-bit games and apps that will be released in the foreseeable future. It will be a few years before 64 bit OSs become common and a few years after that before 64 bit applications become common. What are you talking about? 64 Bit Linux has been available years. I'm running 64 bit Fedora Core 3 on my Compaq R3000z, it works great. That's uncommon though and most OSs these days are sold by Microsoft. Microsoft do have an OS designed for the 64 bit Intel processors (a 64 bit version of Server 2003) and they have a beta 64 bit version of XP out for those who want to test it/can get it. The OP will need 64 bit drivers for each piece of hardware though so I hope all the items are/will be supported with 64 bit driver availability. Paul |
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