Could use some help(regarding 32-bit or 64-bit)

[MasterMind]

I can either install 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate. I'll lay out some facts and maybe you can help me decide. I'm not to good with this.

Currently:

Windows Vista(32-bit)
2GB of RAM
2.2 GHz Processor

I have plenty of free space. Should I go with 64-bit or 32-bit?

 

[tw33k]

Personally, I would buy more ram and install 64 bit.

 

[MasterMind]

Personally, I would buy more ram and install 64 bit.

How much is an upgrade from 2GB to 4GB?

 

[tw33k]

How much is an upgrade from 2GB to 4GB?

You'll have to look around as I'm in Australia and prices would be different but I'd say around $50-60 for a 2gb stick

 

[harpua]

Very cheap (as in $25 to $50 or so, last time I looked, and probably cheaper now) at a place like Newegg.com, but you need to first make sure your complete system is compatible with a 64 bit OS. There may be some online compatibility tools you can use to check with. Google is your friend.

 

[MasterMind]

How much is an upgrade from 2GB to 4GB?

You'll have to look around as I'm in Australia and prices would be different but I'd say around $50-60 for a 2gb stick

Well maybe in the future I can do that, but not right now. Thanks for your help and:

I'm on Vista 32-bit right now, do you recommend me upgrading to Windows 7 32-bit? It's Ultimate also.

 

[tw33k]

Very cheap (as in $25 to $50 or so, last time I looked, and probably cheaper now) at a place like Newegg.com, but you need to first make sure your complete system is compatible with a 64 bit OS. There may be some online compatibility tools you can use to check with. Google is your friend.

Even cheaper than I thought.

If I were you I'd go for it and upgrade to windows 7.

 

[Snufffed]

Well, I'm good with 2GB RAM DDR2 monster HDD's and x86.

maybe MS will get X64 working, failed in XP, failed in 2000, failed in Vista,
and still massive problems with Windows 7.

Check the forums and see who is having problems 90% are X64, and 9% are 100% noobs, and 1% is X86.

 

[MasterMind]

Very cheap (as in $25 to $50 or so, last time I looked, and probably cheaper now) at a place like Newegg.com, but you need to first make sure your complete system is compatible with a 64 bit OS. There may be some online compatibility tools you can use to check with. Google is your friend.

I did that and I met the requirement 2GB minimum for the 64-bit but I want to enjoy it which is why I'm thinking about doing 32-bit.

 

[tw33k]

Very cheap (as in $25 to $50 or so, last time I looked, and probably cheaper now) at a place like Newegg.com, but you need to first make sure your complete system is compatible with a 64 bit OS. There may be some online compatibility tools you can use to check with. Google is your friend.

I did that and I met the requirement 2GB minimum for the 64-bit but I want to enjoy it which is why I'm thinking about doing 32-bit.

Go for it

 

[patrickt]

My position is you go to 64-bit unless you have a reason not to.

Reasons not to:
1. System isn't capable of 64-bit. That means you have processor that will handle 64-bit. I'm assuming you do but you don't say.
2. Your critical software will run on 64-bit. For example, one of my dictionaries wouldn't run with 64-bit and when I first switched I couldn't get Pentax raw codecs for 64-bit.
3. You peripheral hardware has drivers for 64-bit. For example, my printer doesn't yet have drivers for W7 64-bit. I can make Vista64 work but it's clunky.

 

[rpmstl]

What massive problems with 64?

 

[MasterMind]

I installed 32-bit and it's working great, thanks for all the help!

 

[Frostmourne]

Go for 64-bit. If programs don't work get new ones. 32 is obsolete.

 

[Sbrideau]

32 is not obsolete for someone who has only 2GB RAM. I don't think it changes much if the person is going 32 or 64 unless there is more than 3GB RAM in the system, where it is better to go 64 for the ability to use all the RAM and to go faster etc.

 

[Frostmourne]

64-bit has patchguard and support for EFI in the BIOS. It also removes all memory limits from windows processes. 32-bit should die just like xp.

 

[Sbrideau]

64-bit has patchguard and support for EFI in the BIOS. It also removes all memory limits from windows processes. 32-bit should die just like xp.

While I agree with you, I still stay with what I said. It does not, however, remove all the memory limits, there are limits everywhere, may them be set or not.

 

[tw33k]

I'll switch to 64 bit when it's completly stable. The number of people coming here for help with problems with 64 bit far out weighs the number of problems with 32 bit.

 

[Frostmourne]

Blame apps not the OS. Most people install far too much junk anyway, and add the factory junk too.

 

[harpua]

I'll switch to 64 bit when it's completly stable. The number of people coming here for help with problems with 64 bit far out weighs the number of problems with 32 bit.

I hadn't noticed that, although I'm not disputing it. But I've found W7 x64 to be very stable and nice, right from RC1 to RTM. No serious problems experienced here, and, as far as I can tell, none related to it being x64 vs x86.

Perhaps there is some confusion encountered by many when they first switch to an x64 platform that creates some issues. Especially till they get the x64 thing figured out and everything on their system compatible with it.