6GB of RAM; 32 or 64-bit windows7 ?

animeguitarist · 3 Sep 2009 at 04:55

Simply put, I am building a new PC for university and I am a heavy gamer. I am building my new rig with DDR3 tri-channel RAM and that pretty much usually comes as 3x 2GB sticks.

When windows7 comes out I will defo be getting it. So I was wondering should I get the 32-bit or the 64-bit edition of windows7 ?

Tahnk you in advance.

Alexrose1uk · 3 Sep 2009 at 05:36

64 bit or you may as well run half the RAM

Kennysevenfold · 3 Sep 2009 at 06:43

I dont think there is any reason to still run a 32bit OS tbh

Meatball · 3 Sep 2009 at 08:03

.

32Bit O/Ss can only address a maximum of around 3.5Gb of RAM including graphics memory. There is no point buying 6Gb of ram and not using a 64Bit operating system. You're building a very powerful computer yet you'll be holding it back with an obsolete 32Bit operating system. Put Windows 7 on there and don't look back

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linktoinsanity · 3 Sep 2009 at 10:26

Alexrose1uk said:
64 bit or you may as well run half the RAM

This basicly.

photoshop · 3 Sep 2009 at 11:37

For a 64bit system, dont you need the OS, the hardware and All the software to be 64bit aswell?

AbsenceJam · 3 Sep 2009 at 11:40

photoshop said:
For a 64bit system, dont you need the OS, the hardware and All the software to be 64bit aswell?

No.

sepulchre · 3 Sep 2009 at 11:54

64 nuff said

aaron333 · 3 Sep 2009 at 11:55

64 Bit for sure.

pingwing · 3 Sep 2009 at 12:00

64bit

/end thread

Mattus · 3 Sep 2009 at 12:53

64-bit, for sure.

photoshop said:
For a 64bit system, dont you need the OS, the hardware and All the software to be 64bit aswell?

No. You need a 64-bit OS, a 64-bit capable CPU and 64-bit drivers. You don't need 64-bit software as 64-bit Windows can run 32-bit code.

photoshop · 3 Sep 2009 at 12:57

Mattus said:
64-bit, for sure.

No. You need a 64-bit OS, a 64-bit capable CPU and 64-bit drivers. You don't need 64-bit software as 64-bit Windows can run 32-bit code.

but wount that mean that 32bit programs will not utilise the extra ram?

Caged · 3 Sep 2009 at 13:01

Yes it would, but they wouldn't be able to anyway so it's not exactly a loss

Burnsy2023 · 3 Sep 2009 at 13:06

photoshop said:
but wount that mean that 32bit programs will not utilise the extra ram?

A single application cannot use more than 4GB RAM. However, with Windows and other applications in RAM, I doubt you'd be able to hit the limit anyway. Especially, as any apps that might get anywhere to using that much RAM will have a 64bit release as well.

aaron333 · 3 Sep 2009 at 13:08

Windows Vista and Windows 7 both cache memory giving it quicker access to memory for core system functions, if you then start opening memory hungry apps windows automatically releases chunks of the cached memory to assign to these apps.

So basically, go 64 Bit and don't waste the RAM.

Meatball · 3 Sep 2009 at 16:04

Just install 64Bit and be done with it, you wont even notice you're using a 64Bit O/S.

New Microsoft policy requires manufacturers to submit 32Bit & 64Bit drivers otherwise they wont sign them, so drivers are not an issue either. Software does not need to be 64bit to work

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marc2003 · 3 Sep 2009 at 16:13

Burnsy2023 said:
A single application cannot use more than 4GB RAM.

the limit is 2gb not 4.

Burnsy2023 · 3 Sep 2009 at 17:56

marc2003 said:
the limit is 2gb not 4.

2GB as default but you can increase that to 4GB.

animeguitarist · 3 Sep 2009 at 23:56

Thank you all.

Alright, thank you people so much for the great advise and the quick responses. I really apreciate it.

My new rig will be on 64-bit OS the whole way and I will get Windows7 (64-bit) when it comes out.

This will be a beast of a machine and I can't wait for my core i7 to arrive, it will be mint.

Once again, thanks for the replies.

5abr3 · 4 Sep 2009 at 00:08

Some apps can (and do) hit the 2GB (and the 4GB limit) such as SupCom.

Enjoy the new computer