64bit OS. Worth it?

Hi folks,

Here is the config of my current rig which is currently dual booted with windows XP and windows 7 (64bit):

Processor - Intel core 2 quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz 2.39GHz

RAM - 4.00 GB (3.50 GB usable) 6400mhz
System type – windows 7 64 bit Operating System
Disk space – 1.5TB
Graphics - NVIDIA Geforce 9600 GT

Looking at my current hardware am I actually getting any benefit of running a 64bit os? Would I be just as well running the 32 bit version of windows 7 instead?
The PC itself runs fine at the moment but I'm looking to get teh optimum performance out of my hardware.

PS - I've upgraded the RAM as much as my motherboard will support.

pvangordon said:

Hi folks,

Here is the config of my current rig which is currently dual booted with windows XP and windows 7 (64bit):

Processor - Intel core 2 quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz 2.39GHz

RAM - 4.00 GB (3.50 GB usable) 6400mhz
System type – windows 7 64 bit Operating System
Disk space – 1.5TB
Graphics - NVIDIA Geforce 9600 GT

Looking at my current hardware am I actually getting any benefit of running a 64bit os? Would I be just as well running the 32 bit version of windows 7 instead?
The PC itself runs fine at the moment but I'm looking to get teh optimum performance out of my hardware.

PS - I've upgraded the RAM as much as my motherboard will support.

Hi and welcome

64 bit is most useful for ppl with boatloads of ram that are doing hard core editing, rendering, or blending. You have the hardware to run it, if you experienced an improvement it would be <10% and you would have the added joy of finding drivers of the 64bit persuasion for all of your devices. If you are a medium load user (some gaming, some video, some media) Probably not woth it

IMHO 4 gigs is barely enough for 32 bit (3.3 useable) which is what I have now. I could use another 4 gigs if my lapbrick would take it

Good Luck and let us know if we can help

Ken J++

the only difference is the memory limitation and its unlikely that you would notice any difference, however check here regarding your 3.5GB of useable memory issue

The system memory that is reported in the System Information dialog box in Windows Vista is less than you expect if 4 GB of RAM is installed

Well the major difference will be application and driver support, not performance increase, although it is implied b/c some applications simply rock in 64 and not in 32. If you're a gamer, you might consider 64, some current and upcoming games are gonna gobble on your RAM and HDD space.

I think it's worth it, I never ran a 64bit OS until I used Windows 7 (originally had Win7 x32 then switched to x64) and I noticed a vast difference in performance overall, through I have 8GB worth of RAM.

x64, Explained. - Neowin Forums

zigzag3143 said:

IMHO 4 gigs is barely enough for 32 bit (3.3 useable) which is what I have now. I could use another 4 gigs if my lapbrick would take it

Maybe barely enough for the apps that you run.

I've only got 1 machine with more than 4GB of RAM and that machine is used to run concurrent virtual machines...hence my only reason for the RAM.