Google has finally released a 64-bit stable version of its Chrome browser for Windows systems. Version 37 of Chrome brings it to the mainstream, as the 64-bit support has been in testing since June. By using the 64-bit version, Windows users get speed, security, and stability. Also, according to Google, certain media and graphics workloads in particular are faster with 64-bit.
THe VP9 video decoding, which is being used for some YouTube high-definition streams, is said to be 15 percent quicker compared to 32-bit. Security is also enhanced by using new protection systems and making existing protection systems stronger.
There’s a built-in security feature for Windows users, called ASLR which makes bug exploits harder to write by randomizing the location of things such as DLLs in memory. Also, the 64-bit apps have much more memory available, which means they create a ‘much larger haystack in which to hide the needles that exploits look for’, as ArsTechnica puts it.
According to Google, he 64-bit version of the browser is said to be “twice as stable” as its 32-bit equivalent. But there’s one big drawback with the 64-bit version – it doesn’t include support for the NPAPI plugin API. Thus, some browser plugins, including both Silverlight and Java, will not work. However, Google said it will remove 32-bit NPAPI support in the future, but we don’t know exactly when that could happen.
Internet Explorer was the first browser to have a stable 64-bit version on Windows, and now Google steps in with Chrome. Right now, the 32-bit browser is still the default, so you will have to re-download the browser and choose to get the 64-bit version. Chrome 37 also brings the stable release of DirectWrite graphics on Windows which should make text rendering look more attractive and run faster.