Do I really need Windows Vista 64-bit

If you don’t know already, Windows Vista comes in about 6 different versions ranging from Starter up until one called Ultimate. What most users may not know is that all but the Starter edition of Windows Vista supports a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the OS. Since I really did not have any idea of how a 64-bit Operating System was different than the 32-bit version, I decided to look into it. Here is what I found:

The difference between a 32-bit and 64-bit OS actually depends on if the computer’s CPU is 32 or 64-bit. The CPU (or Central Processing Unit) handles the information given to it. Its job is to perform most of the calculations of the computer. In order for you to use a 64-bit OS, your computer must also use or support a 64-bit CPU.

But in saying the above, why would you want to use a 64-bit version of Vista? The main benefit is the increased memory support beyond the 4GB limit that is currently available in a 32-bit OS. A 64-bit version of Windows Vista can access from 1 GB of RAM to more than 128 GB of RAM. Currently, I do not see any need for this much RAM but the way some applications are so memory intensive, it will definitely come in handy down the road. Another benefit is that all 64-bit versions of device drivers must be certified and digitally signed by the developer. This is a change from the original 32-bit version of Vista which allows unsigned device drivers to be used if need be.

So, do you think that you could benefit by using a 64-bit OS? Let me know