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 ?
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" <mikew137@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message news:41C4442D.C1D51B25@sbcglobal.net...>
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 ?
"Amiman" <mm@fakeadd.com> wrote in message news:32iev5F3l0j56U1@individual.net...> 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 ?>
General Schvantzkoph 19 December 2004 08:59:14 [ permanent link ]
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.
Paul Murphy 20 December 2004 01:29:31 [ permanent link ]
"General Schvantzkoph" <schvantzkoph@yahoo.com> wrote in message newsan.2004.12.19.05.59.13.212777@yahoo.com...> 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.
