64-bit hardware has been around for a long time now. I’ve had a 64-bit computer and Windows Operating System for several years. The problem, and disappointment, is that the 64-bit software is lagging far behind. When you stop and look around a bit (no pun intended), 32-bit software is the norm.
If you have a 64-bit-capable computer and have been looking forward to all the magic that it may provide, you have been woefully disillusioned. We high-tech, on-the-forefront people who jumped on the 64-bit bandwagon have been left in the dust. “They” just don’t make that stuff. Look at all the browsers, drivers, and plug-ins- they’re all 32-bit. What a crying shame.
I understand why though. The companies that produce this software have to be legacy-minded. I don’t blame them. They’re in business. They need to pay attention to the laggards. It’s that or die.
I guess the main difference between 32 and 64 bit software/drivers is how much memory it can access. 32-bit software can access 4 Gigabytes of RAM (Random Access Memory). 64-bit software can access 2^64 bits of RAM. That’s over 18 quintillion bits.
That’s a huge difference. So…
If you have a 32-bit computer, any amount of memory over 4GB (Gigabytes) is wasted. Your computer simply can’t “see” it.
I have 16GB RAM installed on my computer. If I was running a 32-bit system, then 12GB would be invisible to the computer.
I happen to have a 64-bit computer and a 64-bit version of the Windows Operating System. This allows me to “see” all of the 16GB of RAM that I have.
Great! How about the software…
32 Bit Software
I’m going to focus on browsers here, but the gist is applicable to other software as well.
Browsers, like all software these days, for the most part come in one flavor – 32 bit. (This is changing, though.)
That means no matter how much RAM you have installed, the software can’t take advantage of it. A 32-bit program is limited to 4GB of RAM. Period.
Generally, it’s less. More like 3.5GB. So, if you see Windows reporting that you have 3.5 GB of RAM when you know you have 4GB, don’t fret – there are technical reasons for this which go beyond the scope of this article.
You can use your favorite search engine on the internet to find out more about this subject, then, stand back! You’ll get a gazillion hits, and then some. You won’t be the first person asking about this discrepancy.
Advantages and Problems With 64-Bit Browsers
Advantages
Speed. That’s number one.
It is noticeable. The 64-bit browser versions are definitely faster. You can use benchmarks to prove it to yourself if you like but simply using a 64-bit browser will demonstrate the differences. Nothing like the real world, I say. You can just feel it.
I’m not sure what the big deal is regarding this increase in responsiveness. Everything these days is measured in micro and nano seconds. I really don’t care about that miniscule amount of time. If a nanosecond makes or breaks your day, then I don’t know what to tell you.
I would much rather have a browser, or any other piece of software for that matter, that does what I want. Even if it does take a nanosecond longer. Does it really matter?
Unfortunately, speed is about the only thing you gain by using a 64-bit browser. Judging by the benchmarks of the Big 5 (i.e., Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera) that have been run into the ground these days, a 64-bit browser definitely leaves a 32-bit browser spinning in the wind.
Problems
The problems that you will run into may be numerous. Or not. It really depends on your personal browsing habits.
Here are a few things you might want to consider before firing up that fancy new 64-bit browser:
Drivers: 64-bit versions of Adobe Flash have only recently been made available. And they are not available for Windows XP systems. Only Windows 7 and on. I don’t know about Vista.
Java: This is a huge security risk and I recommend removing it entirely. For more on the security problems with Java go here.
Java now has a 64-bit version but has been a long time a’comin’.
Plug-Ins: Your favorite plug-ins may ‘break’. Due to the pedestrian progress in 64-bit support many of your favorite plug-ins may not work in a 64-bit browser. If you can’t do without them, don’t use a 64-bit browser.
Operating System: You must have a 64-bit computer and a 64-bit operating system for it to work. This is probably the main reason so many vendors have pretty much ignored 64-bit software; 32-bit systems are the mainstream market. That is changing, however, in a sluggish sort of way.
Conclusion
You can see the negatives outweigh the positives.
I think it’s a sad state of affairs but we are stuck with it. The bottom line is that you should probably stick to 32-bit browsers even if you have a 64-bit-capable computer.
I was trying to be on the bleeding edge when I built my first 64-bit system a few years back. With bated breath, I expected my computer to blow the socks off my envious friends. I was chomping at the bit (no pun intended). I was also sorely disappointed.
For the Brave of Heart
There are 64-bit versions of most major browsers if you are one of those lucky people that don’t need extensions and browser plug-ins. Here is a short list and some thoughts. (Yes, I was lucky enough to have had a few of those and I treated them gently, since they were in a strange place.)
There really is no point in showing you images. The browsers basically look the same no matter which version you are using. The only exceptions may be the logos, blurbs, and such.
Firefox:
Palemoon: http://www.palemoon.org/palemoon-x64.shtml
Note: Palemoon comes in a 32-bit version as well.
Waterfox: http://waterfoxproject.org/
Both Palemoon and Waterfox are compiled in such a way that takes advantage of the uniqueness of the Windows Operating System. This OS-specific compilation has been available to Linux users for quite some time. Now it’s Windows’ turn.
I have tried both Palemoon and Waterfox (32 and 64 bit versions). Each has its own individual characteristics- some good – some not so good. The bottom line is they are noticeably faster than the stock Firefox installation.
My only suggestion would be to try them out to see for yourself. I have suffered no negative consequences as a result of my experiments; all my plug-ins and extensions worked with both of these programs. If it worked in Firefox, it worked in them.
The only real negative is that they don’t get updated at the same time as Firefox so they are always lagging a little behind.
Caveat: Waterfox uses the same profile that your default Firefox installation uses. Do not delete , overwrite, or change your profile if you care about it. Make backups!
Tip: Firefox/Thunderbird Backup Tool: http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/
Google Chrome:
I don’t think a 64-bit version exists. If I’m wrong, please don’t hesitate to slam-dunk me. Or give me an upper-cut. Whichever happens to be your particular style.
Internet Explorer:
Version 10 in Windows 8 will default to 64-bit on an acceptable system.
There is a 64-bit version bundled with Windows 7. You can easily make that your default browser by creating a short-cut on your desktop and/or task bar. It’s a good way to experiment. See if you actually need all those plug-ins and extensions based on your browsing habits.
Opera:
There are 64-bit versions of Opera available. I can not vouch for the reliability of this unofficial link: http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Opera-64bit-for-Windows/945720329/7
Richard, so your a pack leader, and the pack is slowing you down. I agree with you that hardware and software are still miles apart. A silly example is the DVD drives. The software still supports 16X but hardware was over 22X years ago. Did consider the 64 bit route, but I heard of too many problems, so maybe for the next computer, Mindblower!
Boy! are you ever right about the archaic CD/DVD’s. I never thought they were such a great medium to begin with. they scratch easily and get smudged. They’re susceptible to sunlight and flexing. Drop one on a gritty floor and hope it’s still playable.
You could throw one of the old 3.5 inch floppies across the room and it would most likely still work.
Perhaps the only real durable medium we have now to replace them is the thumb drive? I’m kind of surprised that vendors have not gone in that direction. Perhaps there is a cost issue?
You can download 64-bit Opera from Opera’s download page http://www.opera.com/download/
Click “Download” Then “More Options” and select the Architecture.
Also, Opera 64-bit has a plugin wrapper that will allow you to run all the currently installed 32-bit plugins.
Thanks for the heads up, Ryder!
So Richard, what would you say about using external drives. A 3 TB sells for $150 CDN. That can hold many 4.7GB DVDs, Mindblower!
Howdy mindblower,
I use an external drive as a temporary backup holding pen. This gets updated from the daily backups on my computer a couple of times a week.
Once a month, I copy my most recent backups to the DVD’s.
The external HDD is, after all, just another mechanical device and it can break at anytime just like any other hard drive. You can not rely on its integrity any more than you can the drive installed in our computer. Once you have a backup stored on a DVD it’s basically etched in stone (plastic), so to speak.
If you happen to have some really critical data that you simply cannot afford to lose then it’s a good idea to keep some backups off-site as well.
The saying goes, “If you have only one backup, you have no backup.”
Hope this helps,
Richard
It’s not just browsers.
I upgraded to the newest Adobe Photoshop and none of my plug-ins work.
I figured of all applications Photoshop would benefit from the extra memory.
Even if I could find 64 bit versions of the Plug-ins like Photo Frame I’m going to have to buy them.
Since my computer is fast enough with its SSD driver I uninstalled Photoshop and tried to install just the 32 bit version but it wouldn’t let me. Since it detected I was a 64 bit machine, it forced me to install the 64 bit version.
As a developer it has been a nightmare to support 64 bit users. Even if I did a native 64 bit version I would still have to include special routines since Windows x64 automatically redirects some registry calls to the WOW6432 tree and it redirects some file functions to the Program Files (x32) folder.
Many of these redirections make no sense. I can only assume the Office group needed these changes so the Windows group added them.
Bill
Bill.
If you let the Adobe install routine extract the files and then stop the install you can generally go the to extracted folder and find a 32bit folder with a setup.exe file so you can install the 32bit version directly – at least I’ve had good luck with CS5.
Oh YES Bill that Photoshop 32/64 bit stuff is exasperating!! I use PS a lot & find my 64bit machine takes ages to process videos & photos I’ve created. Like the laptop wants the software to be in 64 bit. I installed from a purchased Adobe disc & at the time I had no choice in speed. But it’s hard knowing I have this fast machine but the processing seems to take forever sometimes when I feel it should fly through.
I use Opera and cannot find the more options choice as suggested by one comment. To download the 64 bit version of Opera go to their site using the 64bit version of Internet Explorer, then the download is automatically the 64bit version of Opera.
I would not recommend downloading “Waterfox”! I tried it could find no advantage or even any difference between it and the 32-bit Firefox. I have uninstalled it and it is still trying to hijack my homepage to the AVG site. Every 10 minutes or so it keeps popping up for me to change my homepage. Live and learn, I suppose.
interesting, because I have been using waterfox for a few months now, have no problem. I think the problem you face is you don’t really understand what you are doing. Waterfox is not meant to be different to firefox, it is simply a 64bit port of it.
http://www.chromium.org/nativeclient/design-documents/native-client-in-chrome-on-64-bit-windows
I have a lot of 32 bit games but I have gone to a 64 bit HP. Is there any way to play them?
windows 64 machines still play anything 32bit, just play them as normal
As I understand it Chrome pretty much bypasses the 4GB RAM limitation on 64bit systems by running every tab as a separate process.
Does this have anything to do with the difficulties in auto-updating IE10 to IE11 on a 32-bit Windows 7 laptop? Tried every troubleshooting tip and had no success with this.
Hi Tony2,
First make sure your system meets the requirements:
Supported Operating System
Windows 7 Service Pack 1
Computer/ Processor: Computer with a 233MHz processor or higher (Pentium processor recommended)
Memory: 512MB
Hard Drive Space:70MB
Display: Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors.
Peripherals: Modem or Internet connection; Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device.
—
If so, you can try installing manually instead of through Windows Update.
The download link for the 32-bit IE11 browser for Windows 7 is: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40902
If the update failed via Windows Update, try to uninstall that corrupted version first, Then do the install manually. That is, download it; run it.
64-bit versions of any program will not work on 32-bit systems.
32-bit programs will work on 64-bit systems, however.
Hope this helps,
Richard
Google just released a 64 bit version of chrome!!!