32-Bit Vs 64-Bit - Windows 7

Marky

Marky

Marky

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Hey all,

I seem to remember that you had to have a 64-bit copy of Windows to use anything more than 2GB of RAM.

Is this still the case in Windows 7?

What is the maximum amount of RAM you can use in 32Bit & 64Bit versions?

Also - What are the benefits and pitfalls of either of the versions?

Thanks,

Marky
 
Yes, 32-bit of any OS (including 7) can only address up to 2GB of RAM. I believe that 64-bit can address up to 16GB of RAM.

Benefits/pitfalls outside of RAM? As long as you use 64-bit drivers, you will end up with a faster system. Also, try and get 64-bit versions of any programs that you used to use. If you can't, then most 32-bit apps will still run, just slower.
 
Its not 2GB. Its between 3 and 4 but your video memory comes off that in a strange way I cant remember how to work it out. Also I odnt think 32 bit apps run slower than they would on 32 bit windows, maybe just a tiny tiny bit. All 32 bit apps will run. you do need 64 bit drivers for everything though.

Physical Memory Limits: Windows 7

The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows 7.

Version Limit in 32-bit Windows Limit in 64-bit Windows
Windows 7 Ultimate
4 GB

192 GB

Windows 7 Enterprise
4 GB

192 GB

Windows 7 Professional
4 GB

192 GB

Windows 7 Home Premium
4 GB

16 GB

Windows 7 Home Basic
4 GB

8 GB

Windows 7 Starter
2 GB

2 GB
 
Last edited:
MagicalTrevor said:
Why do people keep asking this question!!!?!...
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Because...

MagicalTrevor said:
...people with the same misinformed misinformation keep replying!
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Unless you have the answer - kindly leave my thread :p

Ross1234 said:
Its not 2GB. Its between 3 and 4 but your video memory comes off that in a strange way I cant remember how to work it out. Also I odnt think 32 bit apps run slower than they would on 32 bit windows, maybe just a tiny tiny bit. All 32 bit apps will run. you do need 64 bit drivers for everything though.
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So... If I have Windows Ultimate 32Bit (Which can accept 4GB RAM?) with a 2GB Graphics Card - I can only use 2GB RAM? Is that correct?
 
Marky, windows will only allocate the video memory it needs, if you have 4gb of ram on 32 bit you will probably get a "Usable" amount of between 3 and 3.5, unless you are using more then 4gb of RAM it is hard to justify 64 bit windows as the memory limitation is one of its key selling points

=)
 
RAM isn't all that expensive given the benefits, so why restrict yourself to 4GB? Install 64 bit and you give yourself the freedom to upgrade your RAM [or your graphics card!].

You would have to justify sticking with 32-bit these days, not the other way around.
 
SiriusB said:
RAM isn't all that expensive given the benefits, so why restrict yourself to 4GB? Install 64 bit and you give yourself the freedom to upgrade your RAM [or your graphics card!].

You would have to justify sticking with 32-bit these days, not the other way around.
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yes, i have been using 64bit windows since march 07
32 bit should have been retired years ago
 
Anyone with enough computer skills to sign up and post on a web forum such as OcUK should be using 64-bit Windows. No ifs or buts anymore.

32-bit can use 4GB (though in real terms it is less than this, around 3.25GB usually).

64-bit can use (depending on licensed edition) a virtually unlimited amount, in the order of terabytes.
 
PatZ1989 said:
Marky, windows will only allocate the video memory it needs, if you have 4gb of ram on 32 bit you will probably get a "Usable" amount of between 3 and 3.5, unless you are using more then 4gb of RAM it is hard to justify 64 bit windows as the memory limitation is one of its key selling points

=)
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Its hard to justify staying with 32 bit OS,I have been using 64 bit OS since Feb 07,it runs all my 32 bit games and 16 bit DOS games(via Dosbox ) just fine,the fact that you can use more then 4GB ram and has better security then its 32 bit brother are some very good reasons to go 64 bit OS.

There is plenty of 32/64 bit software that works great with it too,btw only reason I can think of not going 64 bit is if you can't find 64 bit drivers or have some very specilized 32 bit software program or 32 bit cpu.
 
If you have a choice and both 32 bit and 64 bit versions are available to you it makes no sense to install the 32 bit option, it is the 64 bit option every time. As other replies have indicated, the 64 bit version is a superior system all round.

The only point that I have found is that there is not a 64 bit version of Flash available as an add in for the 64 bit version of Internet Explorer so I always use the 32 bit version of Internet Explorer with the supported Flash add in.


Rgds
Binty
 
I seem to remember that you had to have a 64-bit copy of Windows to use anything more than 2GB of RAM.
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4GB but this includes *everything*, memory the bios uses, graphics card memory, any other little buffers in other devices. Also may be wrong but I think any single process can only use 2GB.

64 bit can address TB's but Home Premium will let you have 16GB and the pro / ultimate versions 192GB, plenty more than you'll want in either case.


Also - What are the benefits and pitfalls of either of the versions?
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Drivers and application libraries. Most hardware has very good 64 bit drivers now. Older software may also get confused because dll's will be in syswow64 instead of system32 now. these problems are normally easily fixed by moving dlls around manually and / or registering them yourself.
 
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