32-bit or 64-bit?

[drazenn]

I am going to do a clean install,and I am thinking about installing 64-bit version.I have never used 64-bit version of any OS,so can you tell me will I feel the difference,is it faster,is there any problems with drivers?That are the things I am affraid of so I am still not sure.Or maybe it's better to install 32-bit version again?
Thanks

 

[limneos]

There are differences and advantages when using 64bit versions, but there are also complications.

In order to use all 64bit featured improvements, you should have at least 4GB of RAM. Less RAM is bad for 64bit, and better for 32bit. Now if you do have 4GB of RAM, 64bit will take you a leap ahead to personal computing.
If not, stick with 32, it manages less RAM better. (besides, 32bit Windows doesn't manage more than 4GB anyway, only ~3.32GB will be available.

Feel the difference? With more than 4GB of RAM.
Is it Faster? yes, but 4GB of RAM are still needed to see that.
Driver problems? Most of them are covered and work fine.

Will it run with less that 4GB? Of course! Only problem is that 64bit OS need larger memory "blocks" for the same process that a 32bit system does, so it will consume more memory of your 2GB that 32bit will, making 32bit slightly faster and more proper solution in this case.

 

[drazenn]

Thank you,since I have 4GB RAM,and after your explanation,I'll try 64-bit.

 

[ikkaku]

Interestingly enough I overlooked the 32/64 bit option in the installation and installed the 32 bit version and it picked up all 8GB of RAM. A screen shot is attached. Not really sure how that happened.

 

[LePoilu]

Not really sure how that happened.

As Vista SP1, le system show to you the available memory in your computer. That's not mean it can use this memory.

Go to the task manager -> performance. You will see the real amount of RAM it use.

 

[ikkaku]

Oh ok I see now. I don't have too much experience with Vista. I had it on my laptop (which has 3GB of RAM) and didn't like it so I put XP on it.

I was thinking of reinstalling Windows 7 anyway once I find my drivers again.

 

[roadtrip]

Is the choice of installing the x32 or x64 version of Windows in any way dictated by the motherboard architecture?

roadtrip

 

[LePoilu]

Is the choice of installing the x32 or x64 version of Windows in any way dictated by the motherboard architecture?

What do you mean exactly ?

The major argument for x64 is the ability of using 4Go of RAM and more .. that's all.

In a certain way the motherboard is important, it must be able to accept this amount of RAM.

 

[roadtrip]

What do you mean exactly ?

The major argument for x64 is the ability of using 4Go of RAM and more .. that's all.

In a certain way the motherboard is important, it must be able to accept this amount of RAM.

Well, CPUs have an inherent bus width (the 'architecture'). They started as 8-bit, then increased to 16-bit, 32-bit and some of the more recent CPUs are designed with 64-bit bus width. I thought there might be rules associated with the motherboard architecture which influence which version of Windows (x32 or x64) is better suited to a motherboard bus width.

roadtrip

 

[LePoilu]

There's no direct link between x64 CPU and motherboard architecture (for x64 purpose).

You can compare:

AMD Athlon 64 and Intel Core 2 Duo use the same x64 model (Emt64 is a copy-paste of AMD64 instruction), but they are associate to really different architeture: FSB and memory controll on Northbridge for Core2.. Hypertransport and memory controleur on CPU for Athlon.

The x64 is only a "CPU technologie" which mean that registrer and instructions in the CPU are made for 64bit. Outside the CPU there is no difference.

FSB and hypertransport are both max 32bit bus
QPI is 16 to 20bit width
And DDR-SDRAM use a ... 64bit width bus (funny isn't it?)

 

[roadtrip]

Thanks for explaining that.

roadtrip

 

[LePoilu]

you're welcom