Windows 7 & Gaming--32 bit vs. 64 bit - Page 2

wdhpr · 07. Mar 2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.L.

You can use XP mode with full license on Vmware Player by following this article: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/10911...irtualization/
The performance will be much better.

Is this a way to get around the driver issue on a 64 bit OS? I'm amazed by the boost in performance statement.

PS: Outstanding article

Cheers
Wdhpr

J_L · 07. Mar 2010, 08:18 AM

Oh believe me, it's definitely better.

Pinball LAGS for heaven's sake on Virtual PC. My hardware isn't bad, it's 2.3 ghz dual core, 4 gb ram, 2 tb RAID, and 512 mb Radeon.
As for VMware, it works fine. Its performance is flawless, while in Virtual PC I noticed a slight lag with my mouse movement.

As for driver issue on 64-bit, I don't know what you mean, but VMware works perfectly fine on my Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

wdhpr · 07. Mar 2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

As for driver issue on 64-bit, I don't know what you mean, but VMware works perfectly fine on my Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

This is what I meant
Device drivers run in parallel to the operating system. Emulation is done at the operating system level, and is available to its higher layer: the application. Therefore, it is not possible to install a 32 bit device driver on a 64 bit operating system.

Cheers
Wdhpr

MidnightCowboy · 07. Mar 2010, 09:17 AM

Seems everything's been answered now already

The reason in fact I chose Ultimate was the ability to change the OS language.
Might be wrong but I don't think this is an option for the lesser versions. Here, very little is available in English but 150MB download later after updating at install and now it is!

Sope · 07. Mar 2010, 01:02 PM

I've recently upgraded to a new system and went for Win7 x64 Home Premium
(cost of the OS was a consideration, hence HP, along with the fact I wanted all of my RAM available for use, hence x64).

Personally I've found plenty of freeware that I'm happy with and suits my needs, certainly from a security point of view.

Avast 5
Comodo Firewall and HIPS
WinPatrol Plus
MBAM (on demand)
Secunia PSI
Sandboxie (not guaranteed 100% reliable under x64 but still does offer a considerable extra degree of safety).

Add into that, the inbuilt W7 security such as UAC, PatchGuard, and a little common sense with surfing habits and downloads, and I feel pretty secure.

I've also had a play with Virtualbox and a number of different Linux distro's.
If I need XP, I fire up my old PC.

Regarding games, Steam seems to be working fine for me (HL2, Dirt2, OFDR). I've also almost finished Crysis (non Steam), I actually used it's 64-bit mode without any problem all the way through to Reckoning (final level), when right at the end I started suffering severe lag and BSOD's! After fruitlessly messing around with the ATI Catalyst drivers it turned out to be a known problem with Crysis and DX10. Playing it in 32-bit DX9 mode solved the problem for me perfectly........now I just need to work out how to kill that last bl**dy Alien ship!

I don't think you'll have any problems from a gaming point of view under x64.
Maybe some older games may have issues but from what I've read, these are in the minority, especially with W7's compatability mode also at your disposal. (I've also seen quite a few forums out there that have topics which list which games work and suggested workarounds to use if they don't).

Personally, If you are upgrading to a new machine I don't see the point in staying with x86 when clearly the future is x64. As has been said earlier, those software developers that haven't already done so, will no doubt be working hard to modify their programs for a 64-bit environment if at all possible.
Obviously you'll likely come across problems along the way but there's usually a workaround to find somewhere out there on the web.

Personally I'm very happy with W7 x64

Jojo Yee · 07. Mar 2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

The reason in fact I chose Ultimate was the ability to change the OS language.
Might be wrong but I don't think this is an option for the lesser versions.

I think that's right and from what I understand.

HeWhoRocks · 07. Mar 2010, 05:05 PM

I've been playing FEAR, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and Bioshock (all 32 bit) on Win7 64 bit with no issues. Not even tried xp mode.

J_L · 07. Mar 2010, 06:23 PM

Well, I've never had any driver issues, Windows 7 is surprisingly good at recognizing your hardware. My whole computer became fully functional (including graphic card) without a reboot on the first day within minutes!

I think you'll only have driver problems if your hardware is very old.
You can test drive a Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day trial here available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Av_Crazy · 30. Mar 2010, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.L.

You can use XP mode with full license on Vmware Player by following this article: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/10911...irtualization/
The performance will be much better.

There's also VMLite if you prefer VirtualBox: http://www.vmlite.com/index.php/download
The software itself is based on VitualBox, they have an add-on for VirtualBox 3.1.2 as well. Not sure about this one because I never tried it before.

Thanx for dis links..will try it when i instal 7

07. Mar 2010, 08:18 AM	#12 (permalink)
J_L Co-Author, Best Free Security List Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,003	Oh believe me, it's definitely better. Pinball LAGS for heaven's sake on Virtual PC. My hardware isn't bad, it's 2.3 ghz dual core, 4 gb ram, 2 tb RAID, and 512 mb Radeon. As for VMware, it works fine. Its performance is flawless, while in Virtual PC I noticed a slight lag with my mouse movement. As for driver issue on 64-bit, I don't know what you mean, but VMware works perfectly fine on my Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. Last edited by J_L; 07. Mar 2010 at 08:20 AM.

07. Mar 2010, 09:17 AM	#14 (permalink)
MidnightCowboy Site Manager Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South American Banana Republic, third bunch from the left Posts: 15,384	Seems everything's been answered now already The reason in fact I chose Ultimate was the ability to change the OS language. Might be wrong but I don't think this is an option for the lesser versions. Here, very little is available in English but 150MB download later after updating at install and now it is! __________________ Buy a Hoover and prove technology sucks.

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07. Mar 2010, 01:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
Sope Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 1,174	I've recently upgraded to a new system and went for Win7 x64 Home Premium (cost of the OS was a consideration, hence HP, along with the fact I wanted all of my RAM available for use, hence x64). Personally I've found plenty of freeware that I'm happy with and suits my needs, certainly from a security point of view. Avast 5 Comodo Firewall and HIPS WinPatrol Plus MBAM (on demand) Secunia PSI Sandboxie (not guaranteed 100% reliable under x64 but still does offer a considerable extra degree of safety). Add into that, the inbuilt W7 security such as UAC, PatchGuard, and a little common sense with surfing habits and downloads, and I feel pretty secure. I've also had a play with Virtualbox and a number of different Linux distro's. If I need XP, I fire up my old PC. Regarding games, Steam seems to be working fine for me (HL2, Dirt2, OFDR). I've also almost finished Crysis (non Steam), I actually used it's 64-bit mode without any problem all the way through to Reckoning (final level), when right at the end I started suffering severe lag and BSOD's! After fruitlessly messing around with the ATI Catalyst drivers it turned out to be a known problem with Crysis and DX10. Playing it in 32-bit DX9 mode solved the problem for me perfectly........now I just need to work out how to kill that last bl**dy Alien ship! I don't think you'll have any problems from a gaming point of view under x64. Maybe some older games may have issues but from what I've read, these are in the minority, especially with W7's compatability mode also at your disposal. (I've also seen quite a few forums out there that have topics which list which games work and suggested workarounds to use if they don't). Personally, If you are upgrading to a new machine I don't see the point in staying with x86 when clearly the future is x64. As has been said earlier, those software developers that haven't already done so, will no doubt be working hard to modify their programs for a 64-bit environment if at all possible. Obviously you'll likely come across problems along the way but there's usually a workaround to find somewhere out there on the web. Personally I'm very happy with W7 x64

07. Mar 2010, 05:05 PM	#17 (permalink)
HeWhoRocks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Mostly planet Earth Posts: 323	I've been playing FEAR, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and Bioshock (all 32 bit) on Win7 64 bit with no issues. Not even tried xp mode.

07. Mar 2010, 06:23 PM	#18 (permalink)
J_L Co-Author, Best Free Security List Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,003	Well, I've never had any driver issues, Windows 7 is surprisingly good at recognizing your hardware. My whole computer became fully functional (including graphic card) without a reboot on the first day within minutes! I think you'll only have driver problems if your hardware is very old. You can test drive a Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day trial here available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.