Firefox 64bit for Windows

[petergriffin]

I am not sure if this has been discussed before but here you go:
Index of /pub/mozilla.org/firefox/nightly/latest-trunk

Select the "win64-x86_64.installer.exe" to install or "win64-x86_64.zip" just to extract and go.

Discussion.

[darrylmg]

Still need 32bit java.

[VectraMan]

It's pointless. If it makes any difference at all it'll be to use more memory than the 32-bit version.

[petergriffin]

It's pointless.

Probably.

If it makes any difference at all it'll be to use more memory than the 32-bit version.

Explain that!

In any case you are free to compile it from sources. I actually was thinking of doing so, probably using mingw or cygwin.

[VectraMan]

Explain that!

The only benefit of a 64-bit app is it can access >4GB of RAM, which a browser isn't likely to need. But in doing that every pointer has to be 64-bit, instead of 32, and therefore uses twice as much memory.

[petergriffin]

The only benefit of a 64-bit app is it can access >4GB of RAM

Rubbish!

[VectraMan]

Rubbish!

What are the other benefits?

[petergriffin]

What are the other benefits?

You're not far from the truth and I agree in many case it's just a waste of resources. but the there could be some functionalities in the 64bit kernel (any OS) that you might not get in 32 bit mode (I can't think of any for Windows at the moment).

As FF is open source you might potentially build it yourself from sources and see if it makes any difference.

The only reason Mozilla has not released it for Win64 yet is because, as pointed out, it might not work well with Java and Flash 64 bit. As they are slowly going to be phased out, they might develop plugins only for the 64 bit platform.

In my experience on Windows, yes it is a waste of resource, but that's because it is from the daily build and deliberately broken.

[Platypus]

Discussion.

Probably

Explain that!

Rubbish!

Er, can we move this thread to general so that I can take the P out of pg's social skills and explain what a discussion is?