Confession time: computer performance is my day job, just not on x86 hardware so I have simply never bothered to look up the specifics of 32 vs. 64 bit. Thanks for the very lucid explanations, John, and if you're ever considering work in the DC metro area please look me up. (But I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to give up that @wolfram email address.)
Really, I was just being lazy. The hardware is pretty much at my fingertips so if I was motivated enough I could just run a test or two. Maybe I'll get back to you on that. --gvc
