64 Bit or 32 Bit HTPC - Poll

Using a tweaked version of x64 Vista Ultimate.

I can confirm the following working on x64 as they do on x86:
eac3to
tsmuxer
madflac
arcsoft
powerdvd
MP-HT
fddshow
imgburn
AnyDVD HD
GraphEdit

I don't use the others you listed so I can't say. Other apps that I do use:
GraphStudio (replaces GraphEdit+GSpot)
GBPVR
tsRemux

One thing to note, if the directShow Application you are using is 32bit then the additional filters you load need to be 32bit. I can't use the x64 builds of ffdshow because I mainly use GBPVR which is 32bit. By comparison, I can no longer use DSGraphEdit because it is 64bit (when installed on a 64bit OS) because the filters I am using need to be 32bit for use in GBPVR.

I originally loaded x64 to test a specific issue for someone. I had no problems using it so I kept it. I am using all new hardware and drivers are not an issue.

Using media center with x64 vista codec pack along with FFDshow.For some odd reason x64 FFDshow seems a little flacky. NOt using any of the other items you have listed.

Vista????

I could not get my system stable (BSOD, Media center lockups) with the hardware in my profile with x64. When I swtiched to x86 I had no issues.

I have one of each, both work as advertised and expected. When I have to rebuild the 32 bit one for whatever reason though, it'll be 64 bit. The support is there, so there is no reason to use 32 bit anymore at all, IMO.

I haven't tried VMC x64 but I would think so. I don't think it's 32 bit.

i'm on x64 vista ultimate. vista for directx 10, 64bit to use all my ram

anyway whats wrong with xp?

Yes

I can add that Haali works great too.

64bit to use all my ram.

Also because I believe in progression. I'm not going to purchase outdated technology.

I have 64 bit but would have bought 32 bit if I had it to do over again.

It would be helpful if you gave a bit more information on your planned setup. While Vista 64 runs generally quite well, you will probably encounter some incompatibilities. It really only makes sense if you have 4GB or more (in fact even with 4GB it might not be worth it, since the additional 800 or so MB that you can access over the 32-bit version are partially eaten up since 64-bit OS and applications use somewhat more RAM). For a real HTPC (i.e. one that is not also used for work or new games) that much RAM is rarely needed.

Not as far as I know. Media Center is a native 64-bit application under Vista/64.

I expected 64 bit to take over faster with Vista then it has. Altought I don't have any real problems there are a few codecs and programs that I would like to have for my HTPC that are only 32 bit, all my must have programs work.

Well, if you will only use the HTPC for viewing/recording, then I would recommend to use Vista/32. 2GB should be plenty for that machine (the other 2GB is better used in the work/gaming PC). Encoding doesn't require a lot of memory, BTW.

Most of the applications you posted above should work fine with Vista/64 though. The biggest potential troublemaker is probably Media Center, since there are quite a few codecs/add-ons that are not available as 64-bit versions (e.g. the very useful reclock). Another thing to look out for is driver availability for any TV cards or the like that you might want to use.

There are people, including me, that experience problems with stuttering playback on Vista x64. AFAIK, the problem is caused by a bug (don't know details) that really can't be resolved by other means than Haali supplying a 64-bit native splitter. Some successfully work around this problem by using NV12 colorspace output or enabling OSD in the ffdshow codec. However I am not one of these lucky ones. The problem resembles the 24p on 60p display stuttering but for me it's definitely not the cause as my other HTPC running XP is playing the same material just fine on a 60Hz display.
If the poll is to give input for purchase, my recommendation is to go 32-bit for now in case the main usecase is HTPC.

You do know the product key works in either 32-bit or 64-bit? You can either download the MSDN Vista installer floating around (which has all 32 and 64 versions) or MS will send you the 32-bit version for about $10.

I use x64 myself, and everything I want to use works.

Now that new PCs are almost all x64, I think that the incompatibilities will be a thing of the past.

Also, x64 is going to be the standard version of Windows 7. There will still be a x86 version, but I don't know who will use it.

What video card do you have? I had the same problem, but I fixed it. My problem stemmed from an Nvidia driver and specific to the 8800 series. The video used to stutter about every 2s and it took me a while to find a solution simply because I couldn't find the "right" description to google.

For you 64 bit guys, I just want to know if TMT works. I heard it doesn't work on Vista 64. I don't currently have any Blu Ray rips yet, but if I do get a blu ray drive, I'd want to rip them as iso if possible. Until then, the ps3 will have to suffice as my blu ray player.

I had used 64 bit for a long time, and didn't really had problems with it, mainly using Media Center + xvid based avis. ffdshow and mpc (player and/or stand-alone filters) work also pretty OK in x64. The most important piece that's missing as of now is a 64 bit Haali.
But I think one of the biggest problems is the dual support of 32 and 64 bit on an x64 bit installation. Having 32 bit codecs and 64 bit codecs on the same system don't make troubleshooting easier.
Right now I'm back on 32 bit, because it is much easier to maintain, and I also experiemented with other frontends like gbpvr or mediaportal, which simply don't work well on 64 bit. Even though I removed both again, because they are simply not up to the task on the tv recording side, I still kept 32 bit. I probably will keep it this way, until there is 64 bit only version, where no more 32 bit codecs are installed.

32 bit Home Premium. Using Windows Media Center. So mine is pretty straight forward. I use WInDVD9 blu ray plus for movies. I have 2 DVD/Blu ray drives one for region A, one for region B.

No problems.

Is this legit? Can you buy either the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Vista and get microsoft to ship you the other one for a small fee? No problem if your key is from an OEM copy that one bought?

I'm going to be upgrading my htpc soon and knowing that I can use either one, without having to download one of them off some torrent sight would make me feel better.

Also, if you buy a 32-bit home premium edition of vista, can one activate the 64-bit home premium edition by using a 64-bit ultimate install CD?