Hello all. Win Vista is on the doorstep (it have a foot inside, actually ) and i'm planning to get a copy or two. I have one question though. Is there any benefits from running 64bit version on a Core2Duo based system over a 32bit version? (I'm thinking future proofing here.) Any pros and cons here? Also, what is the difference between OEM and standard version? If i buy an OEM version now (and a new harddrive) and install it. then i replace the mobo, cpu, memory and so on. Will this be any problem? (Anyone know what the innstallation ID is generated from?) Thanks for any input
Future wise: probably but uncertain, theoretically if programs use the full 64bit lengths they can do more work/finer detail. Currently: Not much difference, just drivers may be harder to get hold of. OEM: Legally it is tied to a motherboard, if you change a motherboard the EULA is terminated. and you should purchase a new license. Retail: License is transferrable upto 10 times IIRC.
ok. so in theory, if my motherboard breaks and I have a OEM OS i will have to purchase a new one? (This is the one that frightens me the most. Things tend to break, and things do get upgraded)
If your mobo breaks, I think you are within your rights to get the copy re-activated. May be worth checking, just means you'll have to spend a bit of time on the phone.
i've always used OEM's over the retail version. But this time I think I will have to get the retail. As I plan to make the switch to conroe come crysis. It's not common (or so i think..) that a motherboard will go kaput before anything else does. So an OEM is fine if you don'ty ever plan to upgrade your mobo. Otherwise it's worth stretching to the retail. I think, although im uncertain, that most programs are still 32-bit, and its gonna be a year or 2 into vista before we start to see them. So right now, 32-bit has the advantage of available drivers for your bits and bobs. But I would happily gamble on Vista x64. Just make sure you get all the vista x64 drivers for you hardware burnt to a CD before making the switch, as you could run into trouble with certain mobo drivers!
well i might actually buy this some time soon... dont no what version yet... i would only buy it for crysis and other games... but then i would have to upgrade some hardware...
Don't all the retail versions include both 32- & 64-bit Vista? Only with OEM do you have to make your mind up now. I'm sure you're right, but with OEM as it's intended to be used, inside the guarantee period it's really up to the system supplier to sort you out, both a new mobo and a working OS. And when that's yourself, anything can happen. The MS site says the OEM EULA is "up to the system builder" - nothing to do with them. "If you obtained the software pre-loaded on a device from a manufacturer, consult the license terms that came with the software on that device."
No, if you want x64 (And you're buying it, not getting it through the PC) you will have to find one and buy one.
All is confusion, and I guess we'll end up waiting another three weeks to get solid facts. And another thing I don't like; From this thread. That would be a major time-waster when you reformat. It would also be a major problem if your 'old' OS is XP OEM and you can't activate it on a new system before upgrading to Vista, and I assume the reasoning behind the change is to prevent people buying the upgrade and using a dodgy copy of XP to qualify. I definitely won't be pre-ordering until all is made clear.
