Windows 7: x32 or x64

Shadojosh5 · 17 Jan 2012

My PC is running Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.00GHz/1GB RAM and Windows Enterprise x64 SP1.
Would my PC run faster if I switched to x32? It runs fine but it seems a little slow at times. I use a registry cleaner about once a month and also use "Disk Cleanup" and that seems to do the trick. just looking for opinions and tips.

thanks in advance ^^

profdlp · 17 Jan 2012

Switching to 32-Bit might be a bit faster, though I doubt it's worth the hassle. Your real problem is the measly 1GB of RAM. Bump that baby to 4GB (or more) and you will see a huge improvement. Even going to 2GB would make a fairly big difference.

Shadojosh5 · 17 Jan 2012

Ill have to check the specs on my motherboard, I believe i can upgrade to 2 , but then ill have to buy 2 new DDR2 RAM. which isnt a big deal, but i have alot of stuff as it is, im probably just gonna get another laptop, my Desktop is pretty old anyway.Ive actually been trying to unlock the Bios and Overclock the CPU but have no luck, im already Overclocking my Graphics card but see no diffrence. My motherboard is holding me back.

whs · 17 Jan 2012

In the meantime you might try Ready Boost with a fast USB stick. Measure it first with HD Tune. The access time should be around 1ms. You have to let it run all the way to get the acces time figure. Data transfer speed is not that important.

PS: x32 will buy you nothing

Lantz · 17 Jan 2012

I'd never advise anyone to go backward from x64 to x32 unless it was some crazy circumstance like they somehow managed to install it on an old system that can't handle an x64 OS. I agree with profdlp about the RAM. I had an old system with 512MB of RAM (an old Toshiba Satellite laptop), stuck in an extra 1GB stick and it's performance must've improved at least 10 fold. Back in the day that was my gaming system too, so happy with my new setup.

gregrocker · 18 Jan 2012

I run Windows 7 fast on an old HP laptop with 1gb RAM and measly Celeron, but I use 32 bit and wouldn't consider 64 bit with these RAM limitations.

Lantz · 18 Jan 2012

Would a 64 bit OS even run on a system with a Celeron?

gregrocker · 18 Jan 2012

The limitation is the RAM - the Celeron only compounds it. I will not settle for less than instantaneous performance with no hangs whatsoever. I've squeezed that out of several 1gb machines only by using 32 bit.

I would not run 64 bit myself on less than 4gb RAM and would comparison test it even on 4gb.

AddRAM · 18 Jan 2012

Your running 64 Bit on a P4? Amazing

32 bit should run a bit slower. But those chips were built in the xp era. As said it would be best to max out your memory. DDR2 is so cheap at Tigerdirect.

Windows 7: x32 or x64

x32 or x64 problems?