Old software on new 64 bit based system

[aplhunter]

Will my old video editing software (Sonic Foundry Vegas 4.0 + DVD) still work if I upgrade my system to a AMD Athlon64 3800 processor?

[rallynavvie]

Yes, you're still just using Windows afterall.

[isogonic]

64 bit processors are backwards compatiable, they run 32bit apps also

[Faustus]

I just don't suggest Windows 64 at this time. Stick with standard XP. Otherwise everything should be fine.

[redwudz]

Here's one Windows X64 OS compatibility guide:

http://www.3dvelocity.com/articles/win64compatibility/win64softlist.htm

I have X64 on one of my computers and I see no real advantage to it presently over XP Pro or Home. (32bit) I'm thinking there will be as more XP64 aware programs become available.

But if you just have a 64bit CPU, you can run XP32 on it now with no compatibility problems. It doesn't require a 64 bit OS.

Generally, I'd wait for XP64 to mature a little, along with the availability of more native X64 programs before I would make the change in OS's.

[Cobra]

64-bit processors will run 32-bit code just as fast (if not faster still) than 32-bit only processors. They can just handle 64-bit systems and applications too.

As for Windows 64-bit Edition, I wouldn't bother. There isn't really much of an advantage to running that (aside from the knowledge that it's a true 64-bit system). Wait until Longhorn comes out - maybe (don't quote me on this) they will need to be re-writing software and drivers for that. They should release a 64-bit flavour of it, and that's when I'm going to make the jump. Windows XP is a bit long in the tooth to be making steps like this, methinks.

[Faustus]

It goes beyond that. I can think of some DISadvantages to running XP 64-bit at this point. I'd stay clear away from it. Like cobra said Wait for Windows Vista. (longhorn to those stuck in the 3 months ago )

[Cobra]

Sorry - I meant Vista!

(thanks Faustus!)