question about quad cores and windows

[xxunder-takerxx]

i ordered a new comp recently with a core 2 quad processor. do i need to get 64bit OSs now, or is there a way to get a 32bit windows to work with it with the same efficiency? thanks.

[Spike-X]

32-bit software will run just fine on a 64-bit processor.

[Night]

If you're not going above 4GB RAM memory on your apps, 64-bit Windows will likely be more hassle than worth

[Spike-X]

Of course, if you want to run a true 64-bit operating system, instead of a two-bit one like Windows, there's always Ubuntu Linux!

[xxunder-takerxx]

i wont be going above 4gb ram for a while, i just read that 32 bit windows doesnt multithread its programs running, so i just thought id ask. can anyone verify/shoot down this statement?

[Night]

Typically, programs written for Windows don't multi-thread in ways to take advantage of multiple processors. I'm not sure if this matters on 32-bit/64-bit. However, when you run multiple programs, windows will send different processes to different processors... though not unnecessarily in any optimized manner. I.e. I can peg a processor with say CATIA and still run other computational processes because it's on a different processor. Windows schema just wasn't designed around such. They're getting better, but slowly.

[xxunder-takerxx]

so then all in all, what is the difference between 32/64 bit windows?

[Night]

Pro-64
is a little faster,
has more memory address space
has some extra security features out of box
apps with 64bit version will run with more peformance than 32bit apps on 32bit OS

Anti-64
16-bit code wont work at all,
32-bit hardware drivers won't work all,
all hardware drivers have to be Micro$oft blessed or they won't install

all in all if you want to spend the time getting all the compatibility issues solved 64bit is better, but then again you might as well go to 64 bit Linux at that point.

Most experts are shying away from 64bit unless they are needing to go beyond the 4GB memory limit.

[xxunder-takerxx]

so im getting the picture 64bit can be slightly better if u really work at it, but just isnt worth it (which is the answer i was looking for cause i already have a 32bit windows disc). thanks all.