Windows 32bit or 64bit for gaming on a Mac Pro?

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Hi all.

Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

I have an 8-core 3.2GHz 2008 Mac Pro with 16GB RAM. I've just ordered the EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 graphics card and am hoping to turn my beloved mac into a bit of a sexy PC gaming beast for some evening fun. Already purchased Batman Arkham Asylum, Gears of War and an Xbox 360 controller to get me started

I'll cut to the chase. Microsoft are offering a free upgrade to Windows 7 if you buy Vista at the moment so that's not the issue. The issue is 32bit or 64bit for a gaming box - which is the best version to get for performance and compatibility with gaming on windows?

I'm looking to purchase either the 32bit or 64bit version of Vista (with the free upgrade to the corresponding Windows 7 version).

Which is the best to get? 32bit or 64bit? I've been reading that some games don't work well with 64bit Windows. Lots of conflicting articles and comments.

32bit or 64bit Windows... what's the best for a bootcamp gaming rig?

Thanks!

 

[Stridder44]

Hi all.

Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

I have an 8-core 3.2GHz 2008 Mac Pro with 16GB RAM. I've just ordered the EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 graphics card and am hoping to turn my beloved mac into a bit of a sexy PC gaming beast for some evening fun. Already purchased Batman Arkham Asylum, Gears of War and an Xbox 360 controller to get me started

I'll cut to the chase. Microsoft are offering a free upgrade to Windows 7 if you buy Vista at the moment so that's not the issue. The issue is 32bit or 64bit for a gaming box - which is the best version to get for performance and compatibility with gaming on windows?

I'm looking to purchase either the 32bit or 64bit version of Vista (with the free upgrade to the corresponding Windows 7 version).

Which is the best to get? 32bit or 64bit? I've been reading that some games don't work well with 64bit Windows. Lots of conflicting articles and comments.

32bit or 64bit Windows... what's the best for a bootcamp gaming rig?

Thanks!

*looks at system specs* Oh Lord, 64-bit. Hands down. I mean I would recommend 64-bit to pretty much anyone with a modern computer, but you have a @#$%ing beast. NOT putting 64-bit on your machine would be downright batsh-t.

Those "conflicting articles" are idiots who have no idea what they're doing. Honestly. Anyone who thinks 64-bit is bad in some way is living in ignorance. It'll run all of your 32-bit applications perfectly (Windows has something called WoW64, Google it). 64-bit has been the choice for modern machines since like 2007.

Look, this isn't even debatable. 64-bit. Enjoy your beast of a machine.

 

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Look, this isn't even debatable. 64-bit. Enjoy your beast of a machine.

Lol. I think it'll be 64bit then

Seriously though. I kinda knew 64bit was a no-brainer for my specs but I'd just been reading a few bits here and there about 64bit being a compatibility problem for a lot of games on windows. Since my windows setup will be exclusively for games and absolutely nothing else, I just wanted to get a few opinions before went ahead.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Chocomonsters]

Non issue.

If you get Windows Vista Ultimate, it will come with BOTH 32 and 64 bit DVDs.

 

[toenexx]

no question, 64 bit.

 

[jjd]

no question, 64 bit.

I have a 2006 era MacPro - with 2 × dual-core 2.66 GHz processors - I have 10GB of RAM in it and it is fairly quick. But, is it too old to take advantage of 64bit tech? (I just dropped two new drives in it and am planning to boot Windows from one of them on a dedicated basis)