Windows x32 and x64 based system

justintime2001 · 7 Nov 2015 at 21:29

Can anyone explain in layman terms the basic differences between a Windows x32 and x64 based system pleas?

Apologies if this has been asked before, did a search but couldn't find anything

RJC · 7 Nov 2015 at 21:37

64bit can handle larger amounts of ram, if your running 4gb or more then use 64bit.

The link below might help:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows#1TC=windows-7

bledd · 7 Nov 2015 at 23:37

^This.

No one should be opting to run a 32bit OS nowadays.

ShakenNstirred · 8 Nov 2015 at 05:43

bledd. said:
^This.

No one should be opting to run a 32bit OS nowadays.

^This
I have been running only 64bit since 07 with no problems

Simon Belmont · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:23

bledd. said:
^This.

No one should be opting to run a 32bit OS nowadays.

omg this^ 100%

Iron-man · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:25

RJC said:
64bit can handle larger amounts of ram, if your running 4gb or more then use 64bit.

The link below might help:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows#1TC=windows-7

This Is all the the info you need

nox_uk · 8 Nov 2015 at 09:29

Even some phones run a 64 bit os

stick with that version.

nutcase · 8 Nov 2015 at 10:30

But don't be tempted to use 64bit MS Office - nothing works with it :eek:

justintime2001 · 8 Nov 2015 at 11:02

No brainer then, thanks everyone.

K.C. Leblanc · 8 Nov 2015 at 11:09

They're getting rarer but older CPUs don't support 64bit. The only ones you're likely to encounter are the Atom processors in some early netbooks.

EDIT: In the desktop world Intel added 64bit to later Pentium 4, AMD added it even earlier with the Athlon 64.

lordzargon · 9 Nov 2015 at 08:35

As a side-note, your Windows serial key will work for BOTH versions. If you're on 32-bit, you can do a fresh install using a 64-bit media and your existing key to get 64-bit.

Like above, always 64-bit unless your hardware doesn't support it (and if it doesn't you seriously need to upgrade).

koolpc · 9 Nov 2015 at 08:55

The difference between 32bit and 64bit systems is that one has 32 bits and bobs in the case and the other has 64 bits and bobs in the case! lol

MacRS4 · 9 Nov 2015 at 11:21

nutcase_1uk said:
But don't be tempted to use 64bit MS Office - nothing works with it

Really? Have used x64 office for yonks, don't really run into issues with it.

this_is_gav · 9 Nov 2015 at 11:34

MacRS4 said:
Really? Have used x64 office for yonks, don't really run into issues with it.

The suite itself is fine - the only issue is with some third party plugins (and possibly some older Microsoft ones).

nox_uk · 9 Nov 2015 at 11:39

at home you'd probably be fine with it. but in an enterprise... another story. trying to explain someone can't use x and their colleague can because they have difference versions of the same software...

it's bad enough when someone opens up IEx64 and java doesn't work as you only got the 32bit version on there...

nox

nutcase · 9 Nov 2015 at 13:55

MacRS4 said:
Really? Have used x64 office for yonks, don't really run into issues with it.

https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...-4d0c-b5fe-6c6f49b8d261#BKMK_Limitations64bit