Firefox 32 bit (x86) vs. Firefox 64 bit (x64)
Written by Vygantas Lipskas on November 30, 2008
If you are looking to download Firefox 64 bit, then this is the right place to start. But first, let’s check some benchmarks to see if 64bit Firefox has any performance advantages against Firefox 32bit.
3.0 (x86) vs 3.1 (x64)
Lower is better
Ubuntu 8.04 TLS on AMD Turion 64 1.8GHz
Lower is better
15% faster JPEG decoding on Windows x64 with IJG’s JPEG library
Lower is better
As you can see, 64 bit builds indeed has an advantage against 32 bit builds.
In case you would like to download older Firefox 3.1 or 3.0 64 bit releases, check this page
Otherwise, you might be interested in this: How To Build Windows x64 Build
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But x64 will only offer a half baked cookie withouth the Flash plugin, right ?
The main problem with the ff 3.1 x64 Windows build is, that you can’t use Flash! If this would be possible the x64 build would run on my pc (and if it’s possible like under linux please post how ;-) ).
I don’t see the lack of flash on a 64 bit platform as a problem ;)
Yes, the lack of flash is a BIG problem in the real world. Many websites I visit offer items in a flash format, and if you can’t see it, you can’t get it.
If I can’t see it I’ll go somewhere else! ;)
If I can’t see it, I don’t really care how fancy the browser is – it don’t work.
Going to and building websites that REQUIRE a 3rd party plugin to actually function, is just plain dumb.
Shut the fuck up, it would be wrong to categorize Adobe Flash as “3rd-Part” since it is almost a web standard.
I read this stupid comment off of Google and had to say something, god damn you are an ill-informed jack ass.
Yeah, its 3rd party, in the sense that its not made by Microsoft. And according to CNET, “An estimated 96 percent of the Web population has Flash installed.” That, I believe, makes it standard.
Well you’re both kinda right, but…let me add that Firefox (Minefield 64) is waaaaay ahead in the park sitting on a bench waiting for Adobe to make flash 64!
I would also point out that the lack of flash64 is not a FF-only issue – it affects all browsers! You can’t do flash on IE64 either.
Worlds most misleading comparison comparing firefox 3 with 3.1.
OK IS THERE AN FIREFOX 64 BIT IF THERE IS PLEASE EMAIL ME A LINK TO DOWNLOAD I READ ALOT OF PAGES WHERE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND COMPARING IT BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE A SITE WHERE A DOWNLOAD IS AVAILABLE
Why all the yelling?
Oh wait – must be on an old mainframe keyboard. Got a bit of bad news for ya – 8 bit processors don’t run 64-bit software.
lol. Caps lock OFF, my friend. A bit of punctuation might be useful also.
http://wiki.mozilla-x86-64.com/Download
Now that Sun has released a beta version of 64 bit Java, we can only hope that Adobe will follow with a 64 bit Flash. Adobe has an alpha for Linux, so let’s hope they’ll release one for Windows too.
Raggi, Adobe has released a 64 bit version of Flash.
@hooty: Have they release a 64 bit version for Windows?
Yup, had it out for quite a while.
Since when, unleash you’re specifically referring to Linux? There is an alpha version (not even beta let alone release…). The prerelease version for linux can be found here: http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10_64bit.html
On anything else, 64-bit flash is currently a pipedream.
I your first graph, you can’t compare a 32-bit build of 3.0.x and a 64-bit build of 3.1 and claim the advantage comes from the build. 3.1 is faster at js benchmarks because it’s got the new js engine, Tracemonkey.
The second test is more telling.
Yeah.. I really need to do this.. 3.0.7 started to irritate me with occasional freezing.
@raggi where is adobe for 64bit according to adobe it does not exist
F@ck adobeeee
64 bit Flash is only available for Linux.
I am getting ready to build a new PC and I am interested in a 64 Bit processor.
Where can I find a comprehensive list of apps that work in 64 bit WinXP pro?
Can my 32 bit legacy apps work with the 64 bit processor?
There’s a “compatibility layer” in Windows x64 so you should be able to run 32bit apps just fine, though you will have to use some form of third-party emulator or virtual machine if you want to run 16bit programs.
x64 is backwards compatible so you could install a 32bit version of Windows if you want to… but then you would basically be using a 32bit processor anyway.
I must say I’m quite surprised I’m still seeing people on 32bit systems (it’s been out for six years already) and on systems that are unable to play back 720p movies without lagging…
I downloaded the 64 bit version of Firefox and I have not had any issues with it.
and it’s also done nothing for you either….
Everybody is hung up on flash, but the real issue holding me back is that Roboform does not support any 64 bit browsers and I’ve been waiting for 4 years!! For me there is no point installing Win7 x64 if I can’t get my FF x64 with Roboform. I can survive without flash, but not without my 200+ passcards.
i totally agree.
Poweruser says:
August 19, 2009 at 4:20 am
Everybody is hung up on flash, but the real issue holding me back is that Roboform does not support any 64 bit browsers and I’ve been waiting for 4 years!! For me there is no point installing Win7 x64 if I can’t get my FF x64 with Roboform. I can survive without flash, but not without my 200+ passcards.
You could try an alternative:
KeePass
Importing data from Roboform
Lifehacker article on how to “master your passwords”
LastPass
Uses a remote server to store the passwords.
Passwords are encrypted before being sent to the server.
Weave Sync
Alternative to LastPass, albeit it’s still in the testing phase.
Thanks for the suggestions. I have installed Win7 64bit and I have to say that I really like it. However, I am still running Firefox 32bit because of Roboform. I like the way Roboform is managed locally and I dependent on it, not realistic for me to change now.
I don’t think Roboform is to blame as they just don’t want to support an unofficial or “beta” browser. If Mozilla released an official 64 bit Firefox then for sure Roboform would release an update to make it compatible. So, I guess I just have to live with no 64bit FF for now and hope that someday Mozilla decides to release an official 64 bit version.
I installed the x64 bit firefox on win7 64rc1 it it installes to the x86 section of the os not 64 i also installed it to XPpro x64 and it does the same thing so why both OS’s say it is 32bit not 64.Ohh XP Prox64 Rules win 7 still sucks like Vista it has been improved but it is still Vista!
The installer is probably 32bit while the actual installation is 64bit. Windows has always been pretty iffy.
Thats great, just gone to 64bit FireFox and its visably quicker!
hi i just installed win7 64bit n want to get firefox 64bit too… is there a separated section on the firefox site where i can download this cos i cant seem to find it…
any assistance will be much appreciated
Hey, I have just bought a windows 7 computer with a 64bit system. So I go on the web and try to watch videos. The site says you dont have flash player installed so i click the shortcut to the adobe flash downloader site. They say they dont have adobe for a 64 bit system. Ok fine so then how do u run a 32bit browser or is there a new flash that does work for Win 7. Please anybody explain in steps how to solve this problem which millions are suffering from but there is no dam answer to.
Many websites now a days use flash ads I would think its a plus that x64 has no flash support, besides videos there really is no use for flash this day and age. In fact there is a 90% decline in websites making use of flash, its not that big a standard anymore and I don’t think Adobe really care to make it x64 in another way you could also say lack of flash cuts down web viruses.
oh great another blog full of misleading information. This blog is an example of where user’s comments are more useful than the orginal post.
First of all “Shiretoko” is the closest 64-bit browser to a 64-bit “firefox”, and Minefield as mentioned before is alright.
Still no 64-bit flash for windows. There is for Linux. Abobe claims there’s a beta version, but i haven’t been able to find it. Besides, I’m not going to run any beta Adobe product.
They are measured in milliseconds and the differences are very small. So, No, sorry there is no practical advantages to running a 64 bit browser. Only artificial, imagined ones. Tie anyone to a chair and tell him they will die if they can’t inform you of which browser is which, and get it right 5 times in a row, will die nearly every time. It’s useless. 64 bit is for accessing large amonts of memory. Let’s say you are editing gigantic videos and want to quickly copy and paste sections. THEN, and only then is it useful when used with apps like that. Unless you have a browser application that gobbles up say 8 GB of ram and you only have 3GB, it’s worthless. In the future, it may be needed for the browsers. Figure 10 years, 2021. And then again, maybe not. I certainly don’t care if it’s 1% faster. Not enough to run into the dreaded incompatibility issues…. 32bit browsers for me.
He won’t die if he just knows that 64 bit doesn’t support flash… that’s an easy way to tell.
Ive recently installed win7×64 Pro and im simply blown away by the speed of IEx64…sure the flash thing is a pain (and if i *really* want to see that flash advert i can copyu the url into IEx32 or FFx32), but for every-day browsing of the footy scores, forums etc the increase in speed is simply mind blowing….not imagined in any way whatsoever…i would guess in the region of 50% of the time to load a page in IEx64 over IEx32 (using bbc footy page as an example)…i have always been a FF fan and came here trying to find out about FFx64…i will download and play…have a good day :)
So what’s the verdict, people? Have just installed Win 7 x64 (mainly to get more than 3GB RAM operational)… is FF x64 worth it or not?? I can’t pick it out from all these differing opinions! Someone who knows what they’re talking about – FF for Win x86 or x64? Mainly I’m concerned with speed, tho’ no Flash is not great. But performance? We’re on a fairly slow broadband connection so speed is all-important…