For all the fancy graphics and big security improvements that Microsoft touted to sell Windows Vista, a lesser-noticed enhancement may be fueling sales of the beleaguered operating system as it gets ready to fade into the sunset.

Demand for computers with souped-up, 64-bit processors is nudging more PC buyers to go with Windows Vista these days, despite its negative reputation and continued demand for Windows XP, writes Jon Bach, president of Puget Systems, in a post on the company's site that details the XP vs. Vista sales trends experienced by the custom PC builder.

"There is a 64-bit version of Windows XP, but driver support is so poor that it is rarely a feasible option," Bach explains. Driver support for 64-bit versions of Windows Vista is much better, he notes, adding that it's "funny to think that the availability of 64-bit drivers is quite possibly the largest factor 'forcing' people to adopt Windows Vista."

The trends may be more magnified at Puget Systems than in the broader market. The company sells high-end machines on which 64-bit processors make more sense. However, many of the company's customers also stuck with Windows XP long after Vista came out.

Bach, a past TechFlash guest commentator writes that his company updated many of its preconfigured systems to Windows Vista 64-bit over the weekend "in direct response to a dramatic increase in popularity of 64-bit over the last few months."

Computers with 64-bit processors can see improved performance over 32-bit systems, particularly with data-intensive applications, because they can address far more system memory, reducing the need to go all the way to the hard drive to retrieve data.