Building a Media Center PC, 64bit or 32bit Patrick Louis 6/30/2007 8:06:00 PM I'm building a home theater computer from scratch and have selected all my components (see below) but one, the OS. I am trying to decide if I should get the 64bit or 32 bit version of Vista Home Premium. I've beeing reading some of the other posts out there and the general vibe I'm getting is 64bit will be the platform of the future while 32bit is the here and now. What I haven't seen is if I'd get any benefit running the 64bit version in regards to Media Center performance (or if it would work at all). I've checked and the hardware all has 64bit drivers. I haven't checked (nor do I completely understand) the compatibility of the software I'd be using with a 64bit platform, but all I'd really need would be the correct audio/video codecs. So would 64bit provide more benefits over the 32bit version for somone who will primarily use it as a PVR with Media Center? Also, should I fork over the extra cash to get the Full Retail version or save some dough by purchasing the OEM version? CPU ~ AMD 64x2 5600+ MOBO ~ Asus M2N-E nForce 570 Ultra MCP RAM ~ 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800 VC ~GigaByte GeForce 8500GT 256 MB GDDR3 TV Tuner ~ AverTV Combo PCI-e

Re: Building a Media Center PC, 64bit or 32bit "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie[ at ]mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> 6/30/2007 9:40:24 PM Well, given that you have the drivers you need, you could do either. Both should work. I guess part of the equation is what your comfort level is with being in the leading edge v. middle of the pack. Some folks do 64bit not because they have a compelling need but simply to be doing what's new. Others avoid it for exactly the same reason. One reason to buy the Retail copy, v. the OEM copy would be the right to use the 64bit OR the 32bit. (but not both at the same time). (You would need to order the DVD for the other version, since I believe only Ultimate comes with both DVDs in the box. ) -- Charlie. http://msmvps.com/xperts64 http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel "Patrick Louis" <Patrick Louis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:DEF55D26-5D06-457E-BDD1-38012CDF6022[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > I'm building a home theater computer from scratch and have selected all my > components (see below) but one, the OS. I am trying to decide if I should > get the 64bit or 32 bit version of Vista Home Premium. I've beeing reading > some of the other posts out there and the general vibe I'm getting is > 64bit > will be the platform of the future while 32bit is the here and now. What > I > haven't seen is if I'd get any benefit running the 64bit version in > regards > to Media Center performance (or if it would work at all). > > I've checked and the hardware all has 64bit drivers. I haven't checked > (nor > do I completely understand) the compatibility of the software I'd be using > with a 64bit platform, but all I'd really need would be the correct > audio/video codecs. > > So would 64bit provide more benefits over the 32bit version for somone who > will primarily use it as a PVR with Media Center? > > Also, should I fork over the extra cash to get the Full Retail version or > save some dough by purchasing the OEM version? > > CPU ~ AMD 64x2 5600+ > MOBO ~ Asus M2N-E nForce 570 Ultra MCP > RAM ~ 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800 > VC ~GigaByte GeForce 8500GT 256 MB GDDR3 > TV Tuner ~ AverTV Combo PCI-e

Re: Building a Media Center PC, 64bit or 32bit Barb Bowman <barb[ at ]nospam.com> 6/30/2007 10:32:53 PM I've been very happy with the performance of 64 bit Ultimate (the MCE bits are the same as in Premium) with my Media Center machines. The key is to insure that the tuner has 64 bit drivers. The decoders and codecs you need for TV are included with Vista. You should ask aboutthe AVER TV pci tuner card in the media center newsgroup if http://www.aver.com/mpd/combopcie_spec.html doesn't answer your questions (appears to have x64 support). On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 13:06:00 -0700, Patrick Louis <Patrick Louis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: [Quoted Text] >I'm building a home theater computer from scratch and have selected all my >components (see below) but one, the OS. I am trying to decide if I should >get the 64bit or 32 bit version of Vista Home Premium. I've beeing reading >some of the other posts out there and the general vibe I'm getting is 64bit >will be the platform of the future while 32bit is the here and now. What I >haven't seen is if I'd get any benefit running the 64bit version in regards >to Media Center performance (or if it would work at all). > >I've checked and the hardware all has 64bit drivers. I haven't checked (nor >do I completely understand) the compatibility of the software I'd be using >with a 64bit platform, but all I'd really need would be the correct >audio/video codecs. > >So would 64bit provide more benefits over the 32bit version for somone who >will primarily use it as a PVR with Media Center? > >Also, should I fork over the extra cash to get the Full Retail version or >save some dough by purchasing the OEM version? > >CPU ~ AMD 64x2 5600+ >MOBO ~ Asus M2N-E nForce 570 Ultra MCP >RAM ~ 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800 >VC ~GigaByte GeForce 8500GT 256 MB GDDR3 >TV Tuner ~ AverTV Combo PCI-e -- Barb Bowman MS Windows-MVP http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

Re: Building a Media Center PC, 64bit or 32bit "roman modic" <modicr[ at ]astral-it.com> 7/1/2007 8:50:46 AM Hello! "Patrick Louis" <Patrick Louis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:DEF55D26-5D06-457E-BDD1-38012CDF6022[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > So would 64bit provide more benefits over the 32bit version for somone who > will primarily use it as a PVR with Media Center? http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_01.asp [quote] I'm often asked by readers whether they should consider installing a 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista. If I can quote the great (ahem) senator Ted Stevens from Alaska, my answer to this question is very simple: "No, No, No!" But seriously folks, the answer is no. And yeah, this is one of those, "if you have to ask, you aren't ready" type questions. [/quote] http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/2007/06/27/windows_home_server_connector_on_x64 [quote] Windows Home Server Connector, which is the little application installed on the clients which handles backups and opens the Home Server Console, doesn't install on x64. Officially the team says they don't have the resources to support x64 and so there will be no support at this time. What I want to know is why Microsoft isn't putting the money into the team to support x64. .... But backups simply won't function properly, and it is not officially supported. What I would like to see a few months down the road after release is x64 support. [/quote] http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2007/06/25/home-server-connector-rc-on-windows-x64.aspx [quote] Thanks for the tip. I was wondering how to get WHS Connector to work on my 64 bit system. Its a pity Microsoft do not seem to be planning for 64 bit at home! [/quote] HTH, Roman

Re: Building a Media Center PC, 64bit or 32bit Barb Bowman <barb[ at ]nospam.com> 7/1/2007 10:21:53 AM not sure of the relevance of what you posted to Media Center in particular. the WHS issues that impact MCE are that it excludes Recorded TV in backups AND the DRM schemes in Windows in general prohibit recording to a networked drive. On Sun, 1 Jul 2007 10:50:46 +0200, "roman modic" <modicr[ at ]astral-it.com> wrote: [Quoted Text] >Hello! > >"Patrick Louis" <Patrick Louis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >news:DEF55D26-5D06-457E-BDD1-38012CDF6022[ at ]microsoft.com... >> So would 64bit provide more benefits over the 32bit version for somone who >> will primarily use it as a PVR with Media Center? > >http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_01.asp >[quote] >I'm often asked by readers whether they should consider installing a >64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista. If I can quote the great (ahem) >senator Ted Stevens from Alaska, my answer to this question is very >simple: "No, No, No!" But seriously folks, the answer is no. And yeah, >this is one of those, "if you have to ask, you aren't ready" type >questions. >[/quote] > >http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/2007/06/27/windows_home_server_connector_on_x64 >[quote] >Windows Home Server Connector, which is the little application >installed on the clients which handles backups and opens the >Home Server Console, doesn't install on x64. > >Officially the team says they don't have the resources to support >x64 and so there will be no support at this time. > >What I want to know is why Microsoft isn't putting the money into >the team to support x64. >... >But backups simply won't function properly, and it is not officially >supported. What I would like to see a few months down the road >after release is x64 support. >[/quote] > >http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2007/06/25/home-server-connector-rc-on-windows-x64.aspx >[quote] >Thanks for the tip. I was wondering how to get WHS Connector >to work on my 64 bit system. Its a pity Microsoft do not seem to >be planning for 64 bit at home! >[/quote] > >HTH, Roman > -- Barb Bowman MS Windows-MVP http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

Re: Building a Media Center PC, 64bit or 32bit "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie[ at ]mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> 7/1/2007 5:44:29 PM Why would you quote a site that has a long history of uneveness at best? When you have probably THE most knowledgeable MVP on the subject posting? And what does the WHS stuff have to do with this in any case? Seriously, Barb lives this stuff. If she says it's good, I'd be the last person to argue with her. You'll notice my answer didn't answer WRT Media Center specifically, but more generally on 64-bit. And I _don't_ think that "if you have to ask, the answer is no". Sometimes, definitely. But here was a user who had done his homework (he knew to check for drivers, and knew he was covered), but asking what I took to be a final "sanity check" question for confirmation. I gave him the "what's your tolerance for the new" reply, and Barb gave him the "I'm using it and it works" answer he was asking for. -- Charlie. http://msmvps.com/xperts64 http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel "roman modic" <modicr[ at ]astral-it.com> wrote in message news:eLf$tz7uHHA.4720[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > Hello! > > "Patrick Louis" <Patrick Louis[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:DEF55D26-5D06-457E-BDD1-38012CDF6022[ at ]microsoft.com... >> So would 64bit provide more benefits over the 32bit version for somone >> who >> will primarily use it as a PVR with Media Center? > > http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_01.asp > [quote] > I'm often asked by readers whether they should consider installing a > 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista. If I can quote the great (ahem) > senator Ted Stevens from Alaska, my answer to this question is very > simple: "No, No, No!" But seriously folks, the answer is no. And yeah, > this is one of those, "if you have to ask, you aren't ready" type > questions. > [/quote] > > http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/2007/06/27/windows_home_server_connector_on_x64 > [quote] > Windows Home Server Connector, which is the little application > installed on the clients which handles backups and opens the > Home Server Console, doesn't install on x64. > > Officially the team says they don't have the resources to support > x64 and so there will be no support at this time. > > What I want to know is why Microsoft isn't putting the money into > the team to support x64. > ... > But backups simply won't function properly, and it is not officially > supported. What I would like to see a few months down the road > after release is x64 support. > [/quote] > > http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2007/06/25/home-server-connector-rc-on-windows-x64.aspx > [quote] > Thanks for the tip. I was wondering how to get WHS Connector > to work on my 64 bit system. Its a pity Microsoft do not seem to > be planning for 64 bit at home! > [/quote] > > HTH, Roman > >