32bit vs 64bit install.

[Rosco997]

So i just found out that my processor supports 64bit.
Would it be better to install 64 bit?

 

[Anthony]

If you can find all the drivers for your hardware, then i would go for the 64bit.

 

[Orbital Shark]

How much memory do you have?

64bit works better with 4GB and you'll never go back to 32bit. Unfortunately i'll not experience 64bit without a complete new system

 

[nate42nd]

My processor on an old system is 64 bit compatible too. I tried it once. I am running an experiment with 512 MB of RAM. The 64 bit didn't seem to run as well as 32 bit.

If you have 2GB of RAM or more, I would go with the 64 bit install. It also depends on the rest of the hardware you have.

If it's an old computer even with a 64 bit processor I would go 32 bit until you get new hardware.

RAM is not the only concideration bit it's a big one.

 

[vishal88]

I am currently running 32 bit, and it uses 3GB ram.
If i upgrade to 64 bit, in order to use my full 4GB ram, will I use all the installed programs and other data I have built up?

 

[nate42nd]

No, you will have to save the data somewhere and put it back onto the computer after you do a clean install from 32 to 64 bit.

That's a down side. You will want to move to 64 bit when the final Se7en is released so do it now or do it then.

You can always re-install the programs and the data is easy to move to an external drive.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rosco997]

I got just 2gig of ram..

 

[ranjan2001]

64bit computer are meant for heavy lifting & can use 12-16gb of ram & upwards too, 32bit ram usage is limited to 3gb only that too with special switch in the ini file.

So if your work is regular computing then 32bit suits your needs but if you are in for heavy load of computing & multi tasking then go for x64 computing. The real noticeable difference with x64 hardware will be when you use x64 OS along with x64 software (quite many are available in x64 edition too) & having more than 4gb of ram.

x64 OS can let you use 32bit software without any problems.

NOTE:- You should check that all your additional hardware have x64 drivers available else you will have serious headaches finding them & getting ur hardware work. (webcam/soundcard/printer etc.)

I Used 32 bit OS for many years & now on x64 win7 the difference is huge but beware that this difference will only show up if you have more than 4 gb ram installed, I have tested upto 16gb & yes the machine is killing fast specially when multi tasking. I can assign each application 4gb ram & use 3-4 such application together.

Once you use x64 you wont ever want any 32bit OS but don't just migrate to x64 without understanding how it works.

This link should help
32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions - Windows Vista Help

 

[ranjan2001]

I got just 2gig of ram..

With 2gb it would be waste of resources, 1gb itself will be used by the OS so hardly any ram left to actually make use of x64

Minimum 4gb ram to see the real advantage of x64

x64 is like having 128 pipes coming to ur bathroom to fill the bucket & if all those pipe will outlet water from a only 2-3 taps then u r greatly loosing on it.

Real benefit will be to have more outlet taps so u can fill a single bucket faster with multiple taps or fill more buckets together at the same speed /same time.
Hope the above makes some sense, I myself was confused to go x64 or not as I was hitting bottlenecks when multi tasking on 32bit then i had to read a lot to understand how to get maximum out of a x64 & now i can do multitasking (4-5 intensive task without any slowness)

 

[Rosco997]

Thanks!!!!
Imsticking to 32 for now.... =)

 

[Marokino]

Hi im using the Windows 7 beta (32bit)
i have downloaded and extracted the windows 7 64bit, but when i run it i get a message that says: This version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows youre running.
I got 8gb of ram so i would like to try the 64 bit version.

 

[swarfega]

With 2gb it would be waste of resources, 1gb itself will be used by the OS so hardly any ram left to actually make use of x64

Minimum 4gb ram to see the real advantage of x64

The official minimum specification for a 64-bit bit version is 2gb.

64bit computer are meant for heavy lifting & can use 12-16gb of ram & upwards too, 32bit ram usage is limited to 3gb only that too with special switch in the ini file.

So if your work is regular computing then 32bit suits your needs but if you are in for heavy load of computing & multi tasking then go for x64 computing. The real noticeable difference with x64 hardware will be when you use x64 OS along with x64 software (quite many are available in x64 edition too) & having more than 4gb of ram.

I dont know where you got this idea from. 64-bit is just as mainstream as 32-bit and will increasingly replace 32-bit in the not too distant future. 64-bit is no more designed for "heavy lifting" than 32-bit is.

I got just 2gig of ram..

That meets Microsoft's stated minimum requirement for 64-bit.

 

[swarfega]

Hi im using the Windows 7 beta (32bit)
i have downloaded and extracted the windows 7 64bit, but when i run it i get a message that says: This version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows youre running.
I got 8gb of ram so i would like to try the 64 bit version.

You will need to do a clean install (format) in order to install 64-bit. Dont forget to back up all your personal files.

 

[Marokino]

So i have to take a copy of the windows ive downloaded and install it from a cd after i have formated my hard drive?
P.S. I have 2 hard drives, one with windows 7 and the other one with windows vista home premium.

 

[swarfega]

yep, use something like ImgBurn to burn the iso to dvd (wont fit on a cd) and then reboot. Make sure the dvd drive is listed before the hd in the bios boot order.

 

[Marokino]

Well here goes everything, cya on the other side!

 

[swarfega]

Good luck

 

[Marokino]

Okey, i was unable to boot from my DvD with the new Windows 7 on.
And i cant Format my hard drive because im using it?
Could someone help me please?

 

[swarfega]

Go into bios and make sure that the dvd drive is listed BEFORE the hard disk as I stated in my previous post.

 

[Marokino]

so i have to do that even tho i chosed to boot from the dvd? ( i pressed F11 and chose the dvd driver with the dvd in it and nothing happened)