I'm looking for some advice...

My PC has a Core 2 duo 6600 and a MSI platinum P965 motherboard.

I'm planning to buy a full retail version of Vista Home Premium. As I'll be forking out the cash for a full version I don;t want to have to buy another version in 1 or 2 years, so my question is this.

Will my PC run the 64 bit version?

Does the Retail Home Premium DVD have the 64 bit version on it or do I need to check the box carefully to get the right one?

Are there any pitfalls I haven't though of regarding going 64 bit? I don't need special RAM, HD etc. Do I?

And would I be right in thinking that most old 32bit apps will run on the 64 bit version of Vista? And how about for games?

All help appreciated. This things a lot of money, I don't want to get the wrong version!

Cheers all.

There is a debate on that, some people say 64bit is better and otherwise 32bit is better. At the moment i think 32bit edition is better because most of application is 32 bit and game. But in 1 year,2 year and the future maybe it will be most of 64bit available application. There still gonna be 32 bit first i think because most of user are still in there. So i guess going 32bit is not a bad decision and maybe like in 3-4 year upgrade for 64bit if it going to be benefit at all. And if you dont want to get mad because some application , hardware is not supported yet in 64 bit i think going 32bit will save you some frustration.

I made the same choice and I chose the 64 bit edition. Why? Well here are a few reasons:

1) x64 is the future so why buy Vista twice when I can just get the x64 edition now
2) Every 32-bit program I have used runs fine in Vista x64

Also every retail disc has both the 32bit & 64bit editions on them. Also I have ran CS:S, BF:2, BF:2142, COD2, and Half Life 2 and they have all run fine in Vista x64.

What your video card danny ? I am thinking the same of getting a 64 bit edition but i dont know if 1024ram ddr2 800 with geforce 7300gs with a e6300 will be enought to play game like bf2, css. Well im planing on getting geforce 8800 in like 1-2 month, but i saw you had 2gb, can you tell me how %load when are getting like when you are playing a game.And i hope that X-fi Platium driver if fully supported if i go 64 bit.

I'm leaning toward the 64 bit version, can anyone confirm that core 2 duo run 64 bit stuff. And its only the CPU that matters right? you don't need 64 bit compatible mobo and Ram do you?

Danny, you said the full retail version of Home Premium has both 32 and 64 bit versions. Does the key you get unlock both? If I install the 64 bit version and activate it with the key is it then locked in to the 64 bit version or will i be able to re install and use 32 bit version?

All processor those day are 64bit since like Atlhon 64bit. But yes core 2 duo is 64bit, for the ram there no 64bit, 32bit (but at least DDR400 to DDR2 should be fine) I doubt you have sdram with a core 2 duo. For the Motherboard i think if you can run a Core 2 Duo on it , there should have no problem. Most manufacturers put on their website the model and say Vista Ready, that is kind sort of a bullshit, if your board have usb port is fine.

Updated:
I just purchase the 64 bit edition Eom, im installing it on a e6300, 1gb ram ddr800, geforce 7300gs, will come you back if i got any problem.

I have a 256MB BFG Tech 7800GT

This actually can be EXCELLENT topic for Toms Hardware: compare performance of 32-bit applications in Vista 32 and 64 bit.

Also, can 32 bit drivers be installed to Vista64? Like camera drivers written for XP?

Its been done to death in X64, but I guess, I'll do one for you guys. Stay tuned.

I just installed vista 64bit right now, went pretty good. Downloaded Creative X-fi Platinum Driver for vista 64bit, work fine except in game for the AEX that is not like xp but still good.Nvidia Driver work fine, all work fine except there some load time compared xp with like firefox or other apps, but with 2gb ram it should fix the problem. Also i noticed with the same graphic setting i gain about 20 fps in counter-strike source. And for battle field 2 the loading time is about x2, x3 faster then XP but when i enter the game it lag a good 30 sec before it run okay at the same fps. Otherwise i like it, i still dont know how to reduce the icon because it it so bigg.. But with a 1gb ram and running a Geforce 7300gs i was expecting to be laggy in game but its not true, it run the same or better.