Running 64-bit Windows 7 on 1.5 Gigs of RAM?

[Nax Shale Chan]

Exactly what the title says. Can I run 64-bit Windows 7 with only 1.5 GB of RAM? The minimum system specs on Microsoft's website are 2 GB for 64-bit, but I'm not sure if that's recommended or required. I'm getting Windows 7 Professional upgrade for $30 USD, so I want to know if I can use 64-bit vs 32-bit.

I already know that none of the printers I have work with Windows 7, but that's fine. All my other hardware is covered.

 

[Antman]

You can do it.

The question is "Why Would You Want To?" You will not benefit, rather you will be performance penalized.

 

[DocBrown]

Did you run the Windows 7 Compatibility Advisor ?

Windows 7 Compatibility Center home

 

[Antman]

DocBrown is the resident authority on running Windows 7 on non-recommended platforms. I think the Doc has Windows 7 installed on his refrigerator.

 

[DocBrown]

Antman is bragging about me again


Nax

Have you checked to see how much memory you could easily add to your motherboard?

 

[Nax Shale Chan]

I have a laptop, and I would run 64-bit because I have a dual-core AMD proc (two years old though), and I can easily upgrade to 2 or even 4 gigs of RAM if I decided to buy it. I've only got two slots, but 4 gigs is plenty.

So I guess my next question is, if I were restricted to 1.5 or 2 gigs of RAM vs 3 or 4 gigs, would I be better off sticking with 32-bit over 64-bit?

 

[DocBrown]

I have a laptop, and I would run 64-bit because I have a dual-core AMD proc (two years old though), and I can easily upgrade to 2 or even 4 gigs of RAM if I decided to buy it. I've only got two slots, but 4 gigs is plenty.

So I guess my next question is, if I were restricted to 1.5 or 2 gigs of RAM vs 3 or 4 gigs, would I be better off sticking with 32-bit over 64-bit?

I ran 2gb Ram on x64 desktop for 4 months during beta testing of win7.

No problems, but I did not run too many things at one time.

Now I have 4gb on this desktop x64 & have had as many as 9 IE tabs open
& about 20 gadgets running on desktop

So you can do the x64 & always look forward to upgrading the Ram later, as I did.

 

[Nax Shale Chan]

Hmm... Well, the most I ever do at one time is, on a really busy night, of homework, 2-3 word docs, an excel spreadsheet, a pdf possibly, foobar2000 for music, and 3-4 firefox tabs. I figure I should be ok. Plus, I use Rainmeter... uses less RAM than gadgets.

 

[Dave76]

I have a laptop, and I would run 64-bit because I have a dual-core AMD proc (two years old though), and I can easily upgrade to 2 or even 4 gigs of RAM if I decided to buy it. I've only got two slots, but 4 gigs is plenty.

So I guess my next question is, if I were restricted to 1.5 or 2 gigs of RAM vs 3 or 4 gigs, would I be better off sticking with 32-bit over 64-bit?

It will depend on what you do with your computer.
3D rendering or other resource demanding apps will be painful, if not impossible, with 1.5GB RAM in Win7 64 bit.

For normal use, e-mail. browsing, word processing, etc. and planning on upgrading your RAM in the not so distant future, you can probably live with a little inconvenience for a while. Although, I haven't tested it myself.

If your not planning to upgrade your RAM anytime soon, 32bit will be the better choice.

So, to answer your original question, Yes, stay with 32 bit.

One of my laptops is a low spec version with 2GB RAM and is running very nicely, though it's not ever stressed.

 

[usasma]

The laptop in your profile is limited to 2gB of RAM (from this link: Computer memory upgrades for HP - Compaq Presario F572US Laptop/Notebook from Crucial.com )

So, I'd stick with 32 bit as you'll never get the benefit of added RAM on that system.

 

[zigzag3143]

Exactly what the title says. Can I run 64-bit Windows 7 with only 1.5 GB of RAM? The minimum system specs on Microsoft's website are 2 GB for 64-bit, but I'm not sure if that's recommended or required. I'm getting Windows 7 Professional upgrade for $30 USD, so I want to know if I can use 64-bit vs 32-bit.

I already know that none of the printers I have work with Windows 7, but that's fine. All my other hardware is covered.

It probably will fun in 1.5 on 64bit but why would you want to. You eill not reap any benifits from running 64bit and in fact it will run much slower in 1.5 t han the 32bit would. I will bet we can get the printers running as well

Ken

 

[Nax Shale Chan]

The laptop in your profile is limited to 2gB of RAM (from this link: Computer memory upgrades for HP - Compaq Presario F572US Laptop/Notebook from Crucial.com )

So, I'd stick with 32 bit as you'll never get the benefit of added RAM on that system.

Interesting, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. I guess I AM stuck with 32-bit. Oh well.

 

[pparks1]

Hmm... Well, the most I ever do at one time is, on a really busy night, of homework, 2-3 word docs, an excel spreadsheet, a pdf possibly, foobar2000 for music, and 3-4 firefox tabs. I figure I should be ok. Plus, I use Rainmeter... uses less RAM than gadgets.

I see no benefit at all to using 64-bit based on what you are trying to run.