with the 64-bits out are 32-bit systems are obsolete?

hi guys,
  Often when I go shopping for technology, all sellers say to buy a 64-bit system, and not 32 ones, This left me woundering did the age of 32 bit computing come to an end? what happens with the 32-bit systems?

I dont really understand what is the advantage of a 64 bit system compared to 32 bit performance wise. I tried a 64 bit system and i did not notice much system performance. So i dont understand what all the hype is about regarding 64 bit computers.

can some one shed some light about this for me?

thanks

A 64-bit system has registers that are 64 bits long.

A 32-bit system has registers that are 32 bits long.

In theory, this means that the processor can do twice the work with the same number of instructions.

In practice, it requires that the operating system and software be designed for, or at least compiled for, a 64-bit system.

The computing world went through a similar transition going from 16-bit to 32-bit quite a few years ago.

A major limitation of 32-bit processors is that they can only access 4GB of RAM simply - any more RAM and you have to resort to tricks.

I see , its much clearer now. But how come i dont notice much difference between Windows XP 32 bit that I have, and the Windows XP 64-bit, that is on display in many computer shops? I mean both can freeze when you play a game for instance, and there is not that much performance difference, but then again it might be that the game was a 32-bit game, am not sure.

I will wait for vista, and then buy a new one I think, because by that time processors would handle more work, would they not?

thanks

Wikipedia 64-bit article

As newer software comes out which is 64-bit optimized, you'll see larger performance differences. But even then, don't expect a large difference unless applications suddenly start demanding a LOT more memory.

In all reality, right now, you'd have to be multi-tasking tons of large software, or doing some real hardcore data crunching (encoding video maybe?), or some serious engineering models (like 3D design software) to come out ahead after buying a 64-bit system.

That wouldn't stop me from buying one though, if I were in the market for a new workstation.

I noticed x64 binaries are twice as big as x86 binaries. I have seen this difference with the .NET 2.0 framework setup exe and the WPF runtime setup.
Are all binaries going to become so big because they are 64-bit?

ZippyV wrote:

I noticed x64 binaries are twice as big as x86 binaries. I have seen this difference with the .NET 2.0 framework setup exe and the WPF runtime setup.
Are all binaries going to become so big because they are 64-bit?

The .Net framework and WPF setups are so big not because they are 64 bit, but because they contain both the 32 and 64 bit versions of their respective runtimes. Two times the runtime equals two times the size.

x64 binaries will not generally be much bigger than x86 binaries. There may be some difference, but certainly not double the size. If I compare the contents of the main files (that means, excluding stuff like the ASP.NET temp files) of both my Framework\v2.0.50727 and my Framework64\v2.0.50727 directory, they both come in at about 110MB.

Sven Groot wrote:

The .Net framework and WPF setups are so big not because they are 64 bit, but because they contain both the 32 and 64 bit versions of their respective runtimes. Two times the runtime equals two times the size.

During a wordsize transition, it is typical to experience this phenomenon.  These are known as "fat binaries" (or they were the last time around)