Should I go for x64 or stick with x86?

[Nikolay]

AMD Athlon (tm) 64 Processor 3800+ 2.40 GHz. Could I install Windows 7 x64 on this machine? What are the improvements over x86? I have 3 gigs of RAM, will my computer run better on x64?

 

[cwzkevin]

x64...

I will not see any big difference between x86 or x64 for your machine.

 

[winrar]

x64...

I will not see any big difference between x86 or x64 for your machine....too!!! regards!!!

 

[johngalt]

With x86, if you add more RAM, you'll be limited. With x64, if you add more RAM it will use it all. However, x64 is a bit more temperamental in terms of less support for hardware devices (in terms of drivers) as well as new and funky way of doing things (for those who have never used a 64bit Windows OS before).

Personally, for future-proofing purposes, I have to say +5 to the above posters - x64 all the way, baby!

 

[kenabi]

frankly, if you can find x64 drivers for vista or w7, you should use the x64 version and just install drivers for whatever windows doesn't find.

if you need to get something running that won't run in w7 --so far it's only been reallllly old programs, for me-- install xp or whatever in a virtualbox session or wait for virtual xp to come out. there's no reason in the world to stick with a sinking ship. x86 is being phased out entirely, and will be gone soon enough. if you can make the jump, do it.

 

[XGUNTHERC]

good words. I used 64 bit on vista, and I'm doing the same on Win 7. I see no reason to use x64.

also. x64 is safer and less prone to attacks and viruses.

 

[Uber Philf]

Hey, im going with all the guys saying x86 , so get on the boat buddy 64 bit FTW

Enzo.

 

[element4life3]

I just made the switch to 64 bit with this release candidate, and have found it to be much snappier than 32 bit was (this could be due to the fact i was using the dated Beta in 32 bit also). I have 4 gigs of ram so it utilizes more. I don't see u running into any compatibility problems in the future since most software is migrating to 64 bit these days anyways. Think about stickin in another gig if ram to make the switch to 64 bit really worth it, or maybe go crazy in the future and drop 6 gigs in! That's what I plan on doing once I can afford it!

 

[johngalt]

FWIW - the new Server 2008 R2 (which is being called Windows 7 server in some circles) is *only* available (currently) in a 64bit edition....

 

[Captain Zero]

32bit OS' go back 20+ years.

'nuff said.

 

[Uber Philf]

^^ LOL

Enzo.

 

[SkyDX]

Yeah go with x64, you shouldn't have issues with it. The only reason I personally stick with x86 is that most customization stuff only works on x86.

 

[Uber Philf]

SkyDX, i like that signature, you make it yourself?

Enzo.

 

[SkyDX]

Thanks! Yeah I made it myself^^

 

[Uber Philf]

looks great

Enzo.

 

[SkyDX]

Thanks you! If you want an anime styled sig too I could make one for you^^

 

[nate42nd]

I was nervous going to x64 a year ago but have had very few problems. I would not go with 32 bit again.

 

[patrickt]

Right now, you get to try 64bit for free. You can install Windows7 RC1 64bit and see if any of your critical programs won't run or if some of your beloved hardware doesn't have, and possibly won't have, drivers.

For a long time I wondered about 64bit but wasn't curious enough to spend the money to buy Vista64. With the beta, I tried it because it was free. I didn't have any significant drivers problems, had one program that wouldn't run, and had a set of codecs for photo files that wouldn't work. I can live without the codecs, replaced the program that didn't run with one that did.

 

[RST101]

Why everbody (well not everybody) keeps saying drivers are hard to come by for x64 I don't know because it is not true. It was true 8 years ago when xp first hit the shelves but things have got a whole lot better. we are in the age of multiple cores, quad sli set ups, ddr3 etc etc and to think all this has progressed at an alarming rate but x64 drivers haven't. Get real.

I would say definitely go with the x64 because most if not all software is now for x64 as well. And even if it's not then most x86 software will run just fine. Don't listen to those that say drivers in the same sentence as 64.

I have been on x64 for 5 months and have yet to encounter ANY problems relating to drivers and their availability. Go for it you and will not want to go back to x86.

 

[GatoSoft]

Hi! ^_^

I'm using x64 editions of Windows since I've 6 GB. of RAM, before start testing Windows 7, several months ago. I've maybe too much hardware connected to my PC but, although I'm still using build 7048 for social and time issues, I can say that I had no problems at all.
My USB Realtek 8185 Wireless LAN was installed without problems with the Vista driver, my Sound Blaster Audigy SE is working with the custom Win7 x64 driver from Daniel_K as a Sound Blaster X-Fi, my nVIDIA chipset and video are fully supported by nVIDIA itself, my 4 generic joysticks with vibration are working with their WinXP x86 drivers (incredible! xD), my wireless mouse Euro Case EUML-1680W works with the Vista driver, my Pinnacle PCTV 110i was detected automatically without problems and works great with both Windows Media Center and the old honestech TVR.
All 32 bits applications works perfectly lika with Win7 x86. The unique REAL problem is with some old DOS application that now are fully unsupported. But that can be fixed with some freewares like DOSBox.
The rest works like magic. ^_^

Hope it helps.


PS: By the way... SkyDX, I need a signature! Can you do some for me, please? Yours looks so cute... :3