Windows 7: 64bit or 32bit? Windows 7?

I am planning to build a PC with AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ processor (2.30GHz, 1MB Cache). The programs that will be open: Photoshop CS3 or CS4 (depending on the choice made), iTunes, Firefox 4. I am unsure whether to set it up with: Windows 7 32bit and 2GIG RAM or Windows 7 64bit and 4GIG RAM Can anyone advise? Will there be a huge difference in general usage speed? Please give reasons. PLEASE NOTE : I have read the comparison sticky on here - I am after advise regarding day to day use. Just web and the occasional picture edit

2Gb is just about the minimum to run Win 7. I would think if you are going to make heavy use of Photoshop you will need more. That means that you really ought to go with x64. It will also give you the opportunity to upgrade to even more ram in the future.

TBH, I don't think Photoshop would be used extensively. Would you expect a PC with the processor I mentioned to last long enough to require more RAM? I am guessing here - but I suspect by the time it needs more RAM, it will need an upgraded CPU?

I don't have any experience with that processor but I have an Intel i3 2.3 MH that started with 2Gb DDR3 RAM and win 7 x64. I upgraded to 4Gb because it was definitely sluggish after 6 months. I don't do much heavy processing either.

It depends on how long you plan to use this PC. Memory is dirt cheap right now, and while the processor is quite out-dated, it would run Windows 7 fine with enough RAM. I doubt you'd see much of a difference in everday usage. Given the specs, however, I'd consider ditching Photoshop and using Paint.NET. It's free, so the money you'd save can go towards future upgrades.

Good point about Paint.NET. Gimp is also good but a bit more complicated to use.

Personally, I'd go for the 64-bit version of Win 7 with 4GB of RAM as it'll be quicker and less susceptible to a virus infection.

Don't forget, if you use the 32-bit version you are restricted to 3.25GB of RAM.

Photoshop CS4 is available in a 64-bit version as well as the 32-bit platform.

More RAM is better, period. Not just for apps that use it, but also for multi-tasking. Not too mention that it holds more 'cached data', meaning that it's faster to read cached 'anticipated' data in RAM than it is to read it from HD.

James

If your CPU supports 64-bit, then go 64-bit. Don't hold back on the potential your CPU offers. And considering 64bit standard is rapidly growing, you will be able to run both 64bit applications as well as 32bit ones.

Also not to mention going 64bit you can upgrade RAM in the future beyond 4GB if you wish.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...mits_windows_7

For photoshop go 64 bit so you can use as much of that 4GB as possible for it. If you use photoshop a lot and manipulate more than one large photo at a time like I do, then I would recommend you get 8GB of RAM.

There will not be an huge increase in speed, but you will get better performance with 4 GB in general (more inactive programs cached in RAM, better photoshop performance when using lots of RAM, etc.).

I really can;t see any reason for anyone not to go 64 bit - unless there is some really old legacy program that won't run as 32 bits under 64 bit OS - which is exceedingly rare I think.