Is there any benefit to upgrade to 64-bit?

[DrChiper]

Since the calibre 1.x series we have seen a huge database performance boost:

I wonder, is it still worth to upgrade from calibre 32-bit to the calibre 64-bit version? In other words: are there any additional real benefits to be had with the 64-bit version to justify it?
Any advice is appreciated.

[kovidgoyal]

The only major benefit of using the 64 bit version is that it allows the conversion of certain large books for which the 32bit version runs out of memory. As far as performance goes, I have never personally seen a detectable difference.

[DrChiper]

Thanks Kovid, for the quick answer. As I have never experienced in the past any memory issues with my 32-bit version (and I have certainly converted huge files ), I figure it will currently not be worth the effort. That might be different when you add nice new features in the near future, though ...

Thanks again!

[toddos]

Not really sure what amount of "effort" is needed to upgrade to 64-bit. You simply run the 64-bit installer instead of the 32-bit installer (assuming, of course, that you're running a 64-bit version of Windows) and then optionally uninstall the 32-bit version. It uses all of the same settings storage and everything, so when you start up the 64-bit version the only indication that anything has changed will be that it says "calibre 1.3 [64bit]" in the bottom left corner.

[DrChiper]

There were some threads indicating to make registry changes in order to get the correct viewer as windows did not change the file extension association. Anyhow, my current install just works, and I never change something unless it brings me some extra benefits.

[Sabardeyn]

Thanks for asking DrChiper -- I was kind of wondering myself. Now we both know.

[BetterRed]

@DrChiper & Sabardeyn - just in case you do decide to switch to 64 bit:-

The registry hassles you read about are due to changes users have made. The most common of which is OS file type associations to Calibre's ebook-viewer program - which in the 32bit world is normally located at C:\Program Files (X86)\Calibre2\ebook-viewer.exe.

There are various ways to do this, arguably the simplest is via the Windows right click context menu Open With->Choose default program... option. People create them so that they can use the viewer directly from Windows Explorer etc.

Calibre does NOT create, use or need these associations so when it's uninstalled, it doesn't remove them.

The problem arises when people install the 64 bit version and then uninstall the 32 version without first changing the OS file type associations that currently reference C:\Program Files(X86)\Calibre2\ebook-viewer.exe to its 64 bit world equivalent which is normally at C:\Program Files\Calibre2\ebook-viewer.exe.

If you make the changes before you uninstall the 32bit version then you shouldn't run into the registry hassles that you've read about.

Windows provides no easy way to replace a broken file association, other than via directly editing the registry or via a 3rd party registry cleanup program.

BR

[DrChiper]

Thanks for the additional info, BetterRed.

And may I assume that all calibre settings as placed in the the registry and the following locations:
C:\Users\DrChiper\AppData\Roaming\calibre
C:\Users\DrChiper\AppData\Local\calibre-cache
will also remain when I uninstall calibre 32-bit?

When so, then indeed the move to 64-bit might be hassle free

<Off Topic>
I always have fun when I see this directory:
C:\Users\DrChiper\AppData\Roaming\calibre\KovidsBrain


The master is watching us ...
</Off Topic>

[toddos]

I don't believe calibre puts anything in the registry (I could be wrong). The AppData folders stick around after an uninstall, and are in the same place for both 32-bit and 64-bit.