32 bit vs 64 bit Comparison

[Perkone]

Good info Lord.

 

[Lordbob75]

Good info Lord.

Thanks, glad you liked it.

~Lordbob

 

[hybridfan]

I tried both versions of Adobe's Lightroom the other day and got to say 64bit version just seems a lot quicker importing files and adjusting photo's. Maybe it's a little more RAM that helps too as I have 4GB and 32bit OS can't use the whole of that right? even less if you have integrated graphics too, which I don't thank God

It's a shame drivers still seem a bit of a nightmare when it comes to a 64bit OS.

 

[knk17forever]

Great post lots of good info.


I was just wondering about this:

-A 64bit OS can address up too 8Tb of RAM (128 in 64 bit Vista, and 192Gb in Seven).

It says 64 bit can address up to 8Tb of Ram but then it says in Windows Seven only 192Gb what does that mean? Why only 192Gb if it can address up to 8Tb ?

Also am wondering if you think Windows 7 64 bit is good for gaming? I have Windows 7 64 bit and am wondering if I should get a duel boot scenario with 32 bit for gaming or should just wait for more 64 bit compatible games?

 

[Lordbob75]

Great post lots of good info.


I was just wondering about this:

-A 64bit OS can address up too 8Tb of RAM (128 in 64 bit Vista, and 192Gb in Seven).

It says 64 bit can address up to 8Tb of Ram but then it says in Windows Seven only 192Gb what does that mean? Why only 192Gb if it can address up to 8Tb ?

Also am wondering if you think Windows 7 64 bit is good for gaming? I have Windows 7 64 bit and am wondering if I should get a duel boot scenario with 32 bit for gaming or should just wait for more 64 bit compatible games?

First off, the max RAM limitation is a product of how Windows is coded. There also is not a motherboard that can support anywhere near that amount of RAM, so it is a moot point for now.

64bit Windows can run (almost) all the programs 32bit can, with few exceptions. I have been using a 64bit excusively for a few years now, and not found one program that was truly incompatible (games work just fine).

~Lordbob

 

[DeaconFrost]

Also am wondering if you think Windows 7 64 bit is good for gaming? I have Windows 7 64 bit and am wondering if I should get a duel boot scenario with 32 bit for gaming or should just wait for more 64 bit compatible games?

Why would you want to run one OS for gaming that is limited in the amount of memory it can use? Let's say you had 8 GB in your system...typical for a serious gaming system. If you run x86, you are seeing roughly 3.25 GB of it total. If you run x64, you'll see all of it.

Windows x64 OSes aren't something new and uncharted. Windows Vista x64 was every bit as stable and usable as Vista x86, proving that x64 OSes were ready for everyday OS on a workstation. That was almost 5 years ago, roughly. Windows 7 has been available for 18 months now....nothing to be afraid of.

 

[knk17forever]

Thanks for responses and info...

To Lordbob... yeah I know my mother board will only support upto 16g and that seems like alot and I have 4g atm I think if I add 2 more gig for a total of 6 it might help me a bit for gaming but more than that will slow me down... I am interested mostly in gaming atm and very new to computers... I am curious about how much RAM personal computers will actually use in the years to come, 8TB seems huge would take some kind of motherboard and psu and whatever else to run that and make it fast lol... imagine how small they would have to make the RAM chips to fit on the mother board lol... can't wait to see!

To DeaconFrost... yeah 32 bit systems can't use as much RAM... there are few games that would not install on my computer because it said it needed 32 bit... but I found a software called DOSbox that might help me to install them and run them if I really want to play them. I am guessing I did right thing in getting Windows 7 64 bit then and don't need the other... I am also guessing from your reply that soon 32 bit will be a thing of the past... am I right?

Thanks again for replies and info!

 

[DeaconFrost]

To DeaconFrost... yeah 32 bit systems can't use as much RAM... there are few games that would not install on my computer because it said it needed 32 bit... but I found a software called DOSbox that might help me to install them and run them if I really want to play them. I am guessing I did right thing in getting Windows 7 64 bit then and don't need the other... I am also guessing from your reply that soon 32 bit will be a thing of the past... am I right?

They must be some really old games! Yes, you did the right thing. There was talk that Windows 7 would be x64 only, and the latest Server OS, Windows Server 2008 R2 is x64 only...so yes, x86 OSes are soon going to be a thing of the past.

 

[Archmage]

I just want to give a great thanks to the author of this thread. It clarifies a lot of things in my mind.

 

[Lordbob75]

I just want to give a great thanks to the author of this thread. It clarifies a lot of things in my mind.

Glad I could help. My research for this thread also cleared up somethings for me, and seems to be the only one of its kind.

~Lordbob

 

[Archmage]

Glad I could help. My research for this thread also cleared up somethings for me, and seems to be the only one of its kind.

~Lordbob

Do you give me permission to translate this to brazilian portuguese, and spread the knowledge?

 

[Lordbob75]

Glad I could help. My research for this thread also cleared up somethings for me, and seems to be the only one of its kind.

~Lordbob

Do you give me permission to translate this to brazilian portuguese, and spread the knowledge?

Assuming you translate it well, and credit the original to me (and link the thread), I have no problems with it.
Thanks for helping out.

~Lordbob

 

[Archmage]

Consider it done... and if we take in consideration my actual work time, probably I will finish this in time to see the next soccer world cup. lol

 

[PhreePhly]

Lordbob,

I re-read the OP since you have updated and have but a few comments.

Under 64-bit, you state that 64-bit drivers are harder to find. This is only true of older hardware. If a driver is to be WHQL-certified it must be submitted in both 32- and 64-bit form. This was MS's way of forcing hardware vendors to produce 64-bit drivers. Also, 64-bit OS looks for WHQL-signed drivers or it throws an annoying dialog pointing out that the driver is not signed.

Minor point, I know, but trying to help your excellent article be more thorough.

 

[Lordbob75]

Lordbob,

I re-read the OP since you have updated and have but a few comments.

Under 64-bit, you state that 64-bit drivers are harder to find. This is only true of older hardware. If a driver is to be WHQL-certified it must be submitted in both 32- and 64-bit form. This was MS's way of forcing hardware vendors to produce 64-bit drivers. Also, 64-bit OS looks for WHQL-signed drivers or it throws an annoying dialog pointing out that the driver is not signed.

Minor point, I know, but trying to help your excellent article be more thorough.

Ah, thanks for the clarification, I didn't know that. And I agree, 64bit drivers have become more and more common.

~Lordbob

 

[cgc1507]

64 OR 32

THANK YOU LORDBOB75
EXPLANATION ...GREAT

 

[Lordbob75]

THANK YOU LORDBOB75
EXPLANATION ...GREAT

Glad you liked it mate.

~Lordbob

 

[Archmage]

Only sharing a personal experience with 32 and 64 bits Windows Ultimate. In the 32 bit version, the Windows Experience Index of my PC was 4,6. I just format and made a new install, 64 bits. Same hardware. My Windows Experience Index jump to 5,5. The hardware is the same of my profile.

 

[Lordbob75]

Only sharing a personal experience with 32 and 64 bits Windows Ultimate. In the 32 bit version, the Windows Experience Index of my PC was 4,6. I just format and made a new install, 64 bits. Same hardware. My Windows Experience Index jump to 5,5. The hardware is the same of my profile.

Interesting note, but the WEI has always been a little off

~Lordbob

 

[DeaconFrost]

Only sharing a personal experience with 32 and 64 bits Windows Ultimate. In the 32 bit version, the Windows Experience Index of my PC was 4,6. I just format and made a new install, 64 bits. Same hardware. My Windows Experience Index jump to 5,5. The hardware is the same of my profile.

Consider the WEI useless. I've been able to get different scores by simply manually refreshing. You can also edit a file to get whatever scores you want, so the WEI should be completely ignored.