32 or 64 bit OS for WPF, Silverlight & WinForms development

code_wiz

I am currently buying a new desktop and was in dilemma as to whether to get 32 or 64 bit OS, since the vendor offers both at he same price. Given my main day-to-day requirement is to develop for WPF, Silverlight and WinForms (occasionally) + COM-interop, no core C++ development though, what do you all recommend? Should i get 64bit pre-installed or get 32 bit OS installed. I take it i can safey deveop WPF, Silverlight and WinForms apps in 64-bit and deploy to 32-bit - since the JIT compiler takes care of the bit-specifics at jit compile time? I have this dilemma since i am buying a i7 980X with 6 cores there, and 16 GB RAM, and i don't want to be wasting all this resource with 32 bit OS which can access only 3 GB at any time.

Hans Dietrich

code_wiz wrote:

i don't want to be wasting all this resource with 32 bit OS which can access only 3 GB at any time.

It sounds like you have answered your own question. With multiple cores and 16GB memory, opening several copies of VS, a graphics editor, and VMWare will be no problem at all.

Best wishes, Hans

[Hans Dietrich Software]

JimmyRopes

code_wiz wrote:

dilemma as to whether to get 32 or 64 bit OS, since the vendor offers both at he same price.

To answer your question see if the manufacturer offers a 16 bit version for the same price. :rolleyes:

Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

Rob Graham

If you're buying 16GB ram, why on earth would you even consider a 32bit OS? Do you just have a penchant for hot spares, because that's the only use 12GB will ever see? I am currently working on 64bit W7 on a 12GB box. I can run 2 virtual machines each with 4GB ram without killing my VS2010 running in the host OS. I have done vs2008, vs2010, Silverlight and Winforms work on this machine an never had a problem related to using a 64 bit OS. I also do 32bit C++ work without a problem. I would never choose to go back to a 32bit OS.

"People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them." Eric Hoffer

code_wiz

In fact they said they can do "nothing" as well for the same price ;) Ha!

code_wiz

Nice answer, Thanks :) I was only concerned around the technicality of developing these apps in 64-bit, and any grey area of potential issues in being able to deploying the same and they work just fine in 32-bit OS as well that my customers may have. that is all. From your experience, it seems clear that there is no issues developing in 64 bit and these running fine in 32bits. Thanks.

JimmyRopes

I figured if you were going retro why not go all the way. Having 16 GB RAM on a 32 bit machine is kind of like having air conditioning on a bicycle (push bike). It may give you bragging rights but you will never get to use it to it's fullest potential. 64 bit most definitely. You can develop apps for 32 bit customers on a 64 bit machine. Keep your old (32 bit) machine around for testing.

Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

code_wiz

Cool. Thanks :)

Mike Hankey

Quad core 80186 at a blazing 6MHz, but you would definitely need to get the 80187 to go with it. right?

Even a blind squirrel gets a nut occasionally. http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

realJSOP

code_wiz wrote:

I take it i can safey deveop WPF, Silverlight and WinForms apps in 64-bit and deploy to 32-bit

Yes, yes, and yes - the compiler sets the bitness of the compiled app, not the OS you compile with.

".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997

JimmyRopes

Mike Hankey wrote:

Quad core 80186 at a blazing 6MHz

With 640 KB RAM. After all didn't Bill Gates say "640K ought to be enough for anybody.”

Mike Hankey wrote:

you would definitely need to get the 80187 to go with it. right?

Only if you wanted to develop games or other math intensive apps. For run of the mill business apps emulation should suffice.

Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
Think inside the box! ProActive Secure Systems
I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes

Mike Hankey

JimmyRopes wrote:

With 640 KB RAM. After all didn't Bill Gates say "640K ought to be enough for anybody.”

Absolutely any more would be just a waste.

Even a blind squirrel gets a nut occasionally. http://www.hq4thmarinescomm.com[^] [My Site]

wout de zeeuw

No problem at all, and you can run a 32-bit VM if you need to. But you can't run a 64-bit VM on a 32-bit machine.

Wout

peterchen

Go for 64 bit simply because the OS can support more memory, which affects performance significantly. WOW64 works smooth. The only app I found that runs on W7 x86, but not on x64, is unfortunately @Max TrayPlayer - and miss it dearly. Separately-used apps can be run in XP mode, for which you need W7 Pro or Ultimate. (That doesn't work for TrayPlayer because it's a shell extension). The only thing that might stop you is exotic hardware: if the vendor doesn't offer x64 drivers, they are deadweights.

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