32bit or 64bit for gaming

Soldato
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18 Jan 2003
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About to pull the trigger and upgrade from Vista 32bit to Windows 7..

Still undecided on whether i should go 32bit or 64bit.

Main games I play are

SF4
COD Waw
COD4
Age Of Empires3
Grid
GTA IV
Counter Strike Source
C&C 3


Any problems with any of the above on Windows 7 64bit?
 
Theres no reason to not go 64bit nowadays, though apart from better RAM usage theres no real reason to move to it for day to day PC usage. But if your upgrading windows may as well get 64bit.

Also don't windows 7 retail editions contain both 32 and 64bit? I know OEM still has separate editions.
 
Theres no reason to not go 64bit nowadays, though apart from better RAM usage theres no real reason to move to it for day to day PC usage. But if your upgrading windows may as well get 64bit.

Also don't windows 7 retail editions contain both 32 and 64bit? I know OEM still has separate editions.

Yes i have both 32bit and 64bit in my hand.. Just doing a little research on what i should use.
 
64 bit :) i went from 32 to 64 and all the programs and games i play work pretty well on it :)
 
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It would be silly to use the 32bit version if you have a 64bit processor, especially if you have 4GB of RAM or more. I use Win7 64bit for gaming and definitely recommend it.
 
Just check if you have peripheral drivers for 64bit. I bought a colour laser printer last year, to only find that the manufacturer will not release any 64-bit driver, as the model is no longer made.
 
Just check if you have peripheral drivers for 64bit. I bought a colour laser printer last year, to only find that the manufacturer will not release any 64-bit driver, as the model is no longer made.
:confused: You sure you only bought it last year?? Vista x64 has been a common operating system for a couple of years now. Manufacturers who wanted validation from Microsoft for their drivers needed to create x32 and x64 sets. If you bought a printer model that was already a few years out of date then more fool you.
 
I have a Lexmark Z617 here, old inkjet printer and even that has 64bit drivers :p

Go 64bit, you have nothing to loose doing it, also derkaderka you don't need to use 64bit apps because it's a 64bit OS, 32bit apps work fine, infact allot of games are still 32bit.
 
Not sure if it was just the reinstall or drivers but I noticed a definate increase in performance in GTAIV from going from 32bit 7 RC to 64bit Ultimate. Seems to run much smoother.

Probably the Catalyst drivers, didn't check which version I had before. OP, there isn't any reason not to go 64 as far as I can see. Things have definatly moved on from Vista 64bit's launch and, indeed, XP 64.
 
Been 64 bit for a couple years now, apart from a software firewall I was testing for someone not installing about 18 months ago I haven't a had a single problem.
 
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64bit here, have been since xp64 was released (i know it wasn't true 64bit).

Never had a single problem.
 
I have a Lexmark Z617 here, old inkjet printer and even that has 64bit drivers :p

Go 64bit, you have nothing to loose doing it, also derkaderka you don't need to use 64bit apps because it's a 64bit OS, 32bit apps work fine, infact allot of games are still 32bit.

Iam well aware a 64bit OS can run 32bit applications / games , its just there is a small
performance hit in doing that.
Hence thats why I still have Xp32bit installed and dual boot with win7 64bit
When I want to play games I switch to the OS that runs them faster (xp 32)

The reason I asked if his games had 64bit EXE's is , a 32 bit app can only address up to 2G normally
 
There is, he's upgrading to Windows 7, it makes sense to go 64bit, also the fact he's got 4GB of ram means he needs 64bit to take full advantage of that ram.

I've not noticed any performance hit in a 64bit os, I've being using 64bit os's since my Athlon 64, with the pc's people have these days swithing to a 32bit os to play some games is just a total faf about for no reason.

And I believe 32bit apps under 64bit Windows can actually be given more than 2gb ram.

To take advantage of the address space above the 2GB line, however, a process must have the ‘large address space aware’ flag set in its executable image.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com.../thread/84db48aa-04a7-4ce6-9ca5-45c96bc0eacf/
 
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