Windows 7 - 32bit or 64bit

nheather

nheather

nheather

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I have received my copies of Windows 7 Home Premium and have two computers to upgrade in the next few weeks.

Not in an immediate hurry because I had back surgery last friday so it's going to be a two weeks or so before I am mobile enough as both involve hardware upgrades aswell.

I notice that my copies include both 32bit and 64 bit and am now wondering which will be the best to install.

I'm guessing that applications and drivers are more likely to work on 32bit - but is there really a problem with 64bit compatibility these days?

Also, what benefits would I see with 64bit? Both machines will have 4GB RAM and I assume that will be totally accessible with 64bit - but is that also the case with 32bit or does it still have the same restrictions as Windows XP.

Aside from addressing space, any other benefits of 64bit?

Main use is

Mail + Internet
Office
Some picture processing
Some app and web development
Gaming

I'd appreciate any tips and advice you'd care to share.

Many thanks,

Nigel
 
Assuming your CPU is also 64-bit (99.9% probably is, but check anyway) it also improves the way it runs. It will be quicker, and tbh, there is absolutely no reason to go 32-bit.
 
PhillyDee said:
Assuming your CPU is also 64-bit (99.9% probably is, but check anyway) it also improves the way it runs. It will be quicker, and tbh, there is absolutely no reason to go 32-bit.
Click to expand...

This

though there are some driver issues for the 64bit version with other 3rd party software/peripherals.
Kaspersky for example don't seem to have a database running for win7 64bit, but that's all the issues I've found so far...which is quite a big one >.<
 
I had initial worries over 32 versus 64, I initially installed a 32, then later a 64 and to be honest I have found no issues whatsoever.

Everything I required my PC to do on a 32bit os it still does on a 64bit OS, and just about everything that was not 64bit OS compatible has or will become compatible. M-Audio drivers as one example for w7.

I believe the benefits far outweigh the negatives, in particular the memory usage available, and future 64bit programs and software.
 
Rossmac said:
I have 1gb in my PC with a Celeron processor (64 bit). Should I go 64 bit with this amount of ram?
Click to expand...

Definitely not. The 64bit version of the OS uses more memory than the 32bit version.
However you could get more RAM and go 64bit, it would be worth it. (I wouldn't run the 64bit version with less than 4G of RAM TBH).
 
Think the hardware is all new enough to support 64bit.

A few more of questions then

(i) Is it correct that even with 64bit installed, most software to date still runs in 32bit and as such will only be able to address 3.4GB (max) regardless.

(ii) I have a home network (WORKGROUP). Two PCs that I build and have full control over - these can be 32bit or 64bit. Two laptops, to be purchased with Windows 7 pre-installed (I'm guessing they will be 32bit). One laptop running Windows XP 32bit. Does it matter that the WORKGROUP would have mixed OS and address width?

(iii) I guess the peripherals I need to check are

Printer
Print Server
NAS
Scanner

(iv) If there are only 32bit drivers available does that mean that you can't use that equipment on 64bit or does it adapt - I assume it does because most of the apps available today are 32bit anyway.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
nheather said:
Think the hardware is all new enough to support 64bit.

A few more of questions then

(i) Is it correct that even with 64bit installed, most software to date still runs in 32bit and as such will only be able to address 3.4GB (max) regardless.

(ii) I have a home network (WORKGROUP). Two PCs that I build and have full control over - these can be 32bit or 64bit. Two laptops, to be purchased with Windows 7 pre-installed (I'm guessing they will be 32bit). One laptop running Windows XP 32bit. Does it matter that the WORKGROUP would have mixed OS and address width?

(iii) I guess the peripherals I need to check are

Printer
Print Server
NAS
Scanner

(iv) If there are only 32bit drivers available does that mean that you can't use that equipment on 64bit or does it adapt - I assume it does because most of the apps available today are 32bit anyway.

Cheers,

Nigel
Click to expand...

1) A 32bit application can actually only access 2G of RAM under windows (whether or not the windows version is 64bit). However 64bit windows has acess to all of your RAM, so you could have more than one 32bit application using 2G of RAM at a time without hitting the swap file too much.

2) Networking is not affected by whether the OS is 32 or 64bit

3) N/A

4) Drivers and apps are not related, a 32bit app will make a system call, the OS will call the driver. You should be able to find 64bit drivers for most devices these days.
 
Many thanks.

I'm not convinced that it is true to say that (iii) is N\A because of the very statement you make in (iv).

The reason I mentioned those items is that they are older so may not have 64bit drivers.

If that is the case does that mean that I won't be able to use them?

Cheers,

Nigel
 
nheather said:
Many thanks.

I'm not convinced that it is true to say that (iii) is N\A because of the very statement you make in (iv).

The reason I mentioned those items is that they are older so may not have 64bit drivers.

If that is the case does that mean that I won't be able to use them?

Cheers,

Nigel
Click to expand...

I was trying to impy that I couldn't help you with the answer to (iii), you will have to look for drivers yourself, but given it''s windows 7 you will probably find working drivers for some if not all "inbox" (Already part of the OS).

I've been using vista 64bit for a while now and I've not had a single driver issue, but I don't have a printer or a scanner. The print server might be an issue, but the NAS shouldn't.
 
I am running win7 ultimate 64bit, the only device I havent been able to install was a wireless g usb adapter (belkin so not surprised really)

everything else runs flawless, all my apps, games and so forth. 32bit games/apps are installed into a x86 program files folder on c: drive (or wherever you choose to install to) and 64bit into a program files folder. my momo wheel, reclusa kb, epson all in one printer all installed with default ms drivers, as did my gfx but I updated using official ones

even my sb audigy 2 installed with no fuss and I had no end of issues with it under xp!!!

hope this helps. try 64bit 1st if something isnt right or to your liking just format and install 32bit... nothing to lose and everything to gain :)
 
HazardO said:
Definitely not. The 64bit version of the OS uses more memory than the 32bit version.
However you could get more RAM and go 64bit, it would be worth it. (I wouldn't run the 64bit version with less than 4G of RAM TBH).
Click to expand...

That's rubbish. My [now aparantly ageing] rig with just 2GB of RAM runs Windows 7 64 just fine. Certainly more responsive than when I had XP on here.

I also run it on a laptop with just 2GB of RAM - again runs very, very well. Much better than Vista 32 that was on there.

Windows 7 has been designed to run better on lower-spec hardware regardless of 32/64 bit
 
SiriusB said:
That's rubbish. My [now aparantly ageing] rig with just 2GB of RAM runs Windows 7 64 just fine. Certainly more responsive than when I had XP on here.

I also run it on a laptop with just 2GB of RAM - again runs very, very well. Much better than Vista 32 that was on there.

Windows 7 has been designed to run better on lower-spec hardware regardless of 32/64 bit
Click to expand...

-I was responding to someone who had 1G of RAM, not 2, I would expect there to be a significant difference.
-64bit windows allocates more memory for a variable like a float than a 32bit OS, so memory usage is higher on 64bit windows.
-I gave my personal opinion as to how much RAM I'd use with a 64bit version of windows, sure you can use 2G if you like.
-You say 64bit windows 7 is more responsive on your machine than vista 32bit, but you haven't tried windows 7 32bit, so it's comparing apples and pears.
 
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