Is my PC ready for 64bit

[Mitch656]

Right Now i have Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.

But today i found out i had 4gb of ram, how ever windows was only user 3.25gbs

so i was wondering beside have 4gb of ram, what else do you need for a 64bit PC?


My Processor is: Intel core 2 duo CPU E7200 @ 2.53GHz 2.53GHz

 

[gregrocker]

Run the Upgrade advisor:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx

4gb isn't a lot of RAM for 64 bit. And it can be buggy, as I found out.

Flash didn't work in browser, you don't get the full RAM use except for programs that are 64 bit to begin with, and the only one which was on my install was the buggy IE8 with flash that wouldn't work.

 

[richc46]

Greg has given you the correct answer, use the upgrade advisor. Personally, I think that you should stick with 32. I think that the hassle of the ocassional program incompatibility out weights the beneft that you will receive. You could always put the 64 bit DVD away, and when you get your next computer or invest in additional RAM, you could give it a try.

 

[Night Hawk]

Someone say: "Windows 7 system requirements"???

If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Windows 7 system requirements - Microsoft Windows

The MS recommended minimum is 2.5gb of memory which you already have covered there. That's simply due the 64bit placing more data in the active ram and less swapping data out to the paging file used for the suplimental virtual memory.

With 4gb of memory installed here the 32bit install sees some 3.57gb of ram avilable while the 64bit sees all 4gb. 4gb of memory is quite suitable for most desktops on average unless you plan to be running memory intensive softwares like CAD, working large graphics, 3d animation, video.

Having gotten around to adding in a new larger host drive that was the second 64bit retail 7 installation now the host boot drive with the 32bit on a 3rd sata!

So far I've been running just about any 32bit program with a few exceptions where the 64bit is required without much fuss. That even includes some rather old 98-XP compatible pc games.

What won't run on the 64bit 7 is usually something outdated to start with and simply goes on the 32bit.

 

[Mitch656]

well i did run the upgraded Adviser and i got 2 reports 32 and 64

So im guessing it capable, the 64 had ticks next to everything

 

[Dwarf]

Don't worry, install 64-bit and you'll be fine. As regards Flash, Silverlight and other IE add-ins that aren't 64-bit compatible, simply use the 32-bit browser that's included. I tend to use the 64-bit browser, and only use the 32-bit one for sites which require Flash or some other add-in that doesn't work in the 64-bit version.

 

[Night Hawk]

You actually have to create shortcut for the 64bit version of IE 8 there. The 32bit version is already pinned to the taskbar by default. Maybe sssommee daaaay Adobe will finally get around to coming out with a 64bit Flash player?!

As far as program compatibility issues and drivers initially that was a major headache for the 64bit XP that never really saw support there as well as late delivery on 64bit support for Vista 64 there. Due to the close compatibility between Vista and 7 when 7 64bit drivers, updates are not found usually the Vista 64 versions will work out fine.

Whenever a new version of Windows comes out you have to expect some programs simply won't run on the latest. With the 7 the trend is slightly opposite from Vista with actually seeing more older XP programs running on at least the 32bit 7 that would not run on Vista. Advantage #1 Trouble compatibility tool! This is something new for 7 in addition to the compatibility mode tab on the properties screen.