Windows 7 64 bit vs 32 bit

[SmokingMan]

Just a general question here. I'm currently running the 32 bit version but am thinking on upgrading to 64 bit. First, what are the advantages of running one versus the other. Secondly, I see that 64 bit requires a minimum of 2 GB RAM. I have 2 GB, but if this is the minimum does that mean it REALLY needs more to run efficiently?

:sarc:

 

[Product FRED]

A 64-bit processor has more bandwidth than a 32-bit processor. Windows 7 x64 takes advantage of that, allowing more data to be processed, faster. That's why you need more RAM fir x64 than x86 (32-bit). Basically speed would be the advantage. You should really have at least 4GB of RAM though for a smooth experience.

If you ask me, 64-bit is the future. You cab still run all of your 32-bit apps and can also run any 32-bit OS inside Virtual PC (free) or any other virtualization software. Windows 7 x64 is the first truely stable, meant-for-everyday use 64-bit Windows OS. Most computer manufacturers are offering 64-bit as a standard now as well.

 

[whs]

With 2GBs of RAM I would not upgrade. I have both, 32 and 64bit on 3 and 4GBs of RAM. I like the 32bit better because it runs all my programs which the 64bit does not.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

With 2GBs of RAM I would not upgrade. I have both, 32 and 64bit on 3 and 4GBs of RAM. I like the 32bit better because it runs all my programs which the 64bit does not.

What (good and useful) programs don't run on 64 bit W7? Most open source / free software is updated frequently. commercial software mostly is on subscription and should run fine. system related software (like Acronis) more likely has the problem with W7 itself if it is an older version.

While going from XP 32 to Vista 64 I got rid (or upgraded) some tools that didn't work but found much better replacments for free. Going to W7 64 I needed to update some other software again (Kaspersky etc.). but the manufacturer had free updates.

 

[whs]

Examples: the free Revo does not work (only the paid version does) nor does the AppLauncher in my sidebar - and that I use a lot.

 

[WindowsStar]

Windows 7 64bit runs perfectly on 1GB of ram if you are a basic user. We have many machines running this way just fine. Basic = Browsing the web, Word, Excel, PDF viewing, etc. just the basics (business type of things). If you are going to do multi-media, graphics, edit photos, music etc. you will need 2GB or more. If you are going to run AutoCAD, ArcGIS, Video Editing, etc. I would go straight to 8GB.

 

[thathagat]

Just a general question here. I'm currently running the 32 bit version but am thinking on upgrading to 64 bit. First, what are the advantages of running one versus the other. Secondly, I see that 64 bit requires a minimum of 2 GB RAM. I have 2 GB, but if this is the minimum does that mean it REALLY needs more to run efficiently?

:sarc:

ummm....
plus points of 64 bits
1.64 bit is also far securer and quite resilient to rootkits etc.
2.overall performance of x64 is better although x64 efficient memory management really only kicks in at 4GB and up.
3.If you just want to future-proof yourself now, then 64bit is for you.
4.x64 has features that should make the hardware perform faster.x64 is designed to use double the bit-path of x32, therefore it transfers twice the data as x32. Technically it should be faster.
downside
not all 32bit apps will run in 64. This is especially true with many security apps.

 

[Amazing Horse]

A 64-bit processor has more bandwidth than a 32-bit processor. Windows 7 x64 takes advantage of that, allowing more data to be processed, faster. That's why you need more RAM fir x64 than x86 (32-bit). Basically speed would be the advantage. You should really have at least 4GB of RAM though for a smooth experience.

If you ask me, 64-bit is the future. You cab still run all of your 32-bit apps and can also run any 32-bit OS inside Virtual PC (free) or any other virtualization software. Windows 7 x64 is the first truely stable, meant-for-everyday use 64-bit Windows OS. Most computer manufacturers are offering 64-bit as a standard now as well.

I have 2GB of ram and it runs fine. only uses 1GB and when i play games it maxes at 1.5GB.
I'd say that this ran better than windows XP.

 

[whs]

I have 2GB of ram and it runs fine. only uses 1GB and when i play games it maxes at 1.5GB.
I'd say that this ran better than windows XP.

I would be interested to know how many Hard Page Faults you get. Please have a look in Process Monitor > Memory tab when under load. You can see it on top and in the graph on the right side.

 

[Product FRED]

Examples: the free Revo does not work (only the paid version does) nor does the AppLauncher in my sidebar - and that I use a lot.

Revo...what? They have many products but I assume you mean Revo Uninstaller. It runs on my system and I'm using the free version. Compatibility issues are what skeptics (no offense) of 64-bit say should keep you from using it, which isn't true sine you have many options for running old apps that won't work. Chances are usually a program isn't compatible with 7 altogether, not just x64.

 

[whs]

Yes, I am talking about the Revo uninstaller. If you use it in X64, you may have noticed that it only works on the x86 program files and not on the x64 program files.

Chances are usually a program isn't compatible with 7 altogether, not just x64.

Since have both Win7s (x64 and x86), I can compare.

 

[Product FRED]

Absolute Uninstaller has a 64-bit edition that is just as good as Revo Uninstaller and will uninstall programs in
bulk. But that's not my point. My point is you need to adapt to changing times. It was like going from 16-bit DOS to 32-bit 9x. Companies will start making 64-bit native apps. Just wait and see. It's all for the better.

 

[Lee]

You are getting advise from both points view, and they are all good, albeit there is really only one way to go and that is 64 bit. Get another 2 gigs of ram (run 4 gigs or more, more is better) then upgrade to a 64 bit Win 7. If for some reason you really need to run a legacy 32 bit program and for some reason it doesn't work within the 64 bit environment then download one of the free VM applications (Virtual PC, or Virtual Box) and set up whatever OS you want (XP, Vista, Win 7) then you will always have a way to run your 32 bit applications. Good luck and good computing.

 

[whs]

Absolute Uninstaller has a 64-bit edition that is just as good as Revo Uninstaller and will uninstall programs in
bulk. But that's not my point. My point is you need to adapt to changing times. It was like going from 16-bit DOS to 32-bit 9x. Companies will start making 64-bit native apps. Just wait and see. It's all for the better.

Hi Fred, you are funny. I have been adapting since over 50 years (I wrote my first program in 1958 on a Zuse11) and spent my whole carreer (35years) in operating system development. So I don't think that is the point.
My argument was different. Comparing x64 and x86 at this moment, I would opt for x86 with RAM up to 4GBs. But for the future you are certainly right. Once everybody caught up with x64, that will be the way to go. I appreciate the virtues of x64, but in my mind it is early days to plunge into it unless you have a real need.

 

[Lee]

whs, with a great many companies now starting to put out 64 bit applications (Photoshop, MS Office 2010, etc) it is a good time to make the move. The future is here now for 64 programing. Photoshop in the 64 bit mode is extremely smooth and much faster than 32 bit mode. Office 2010 beta in 64 bit is great. When working with 300 to 1000 page documents in Word there is no slow down or waiting for a document to refresh (it just happens quite rapidly).

Yes for some people 64 bit may be over kill, albeit there are those of us who would not want to go back to 32 bit OS's. After running 64 bit Win 7 in Boot Camp on my iMac 27" and working in the field of publishing there is no way I would ever go back to 32 bit systems. Abobe is going to be putting out CS5 in April, and the cost though high will benefit the work I do just because all the suite will be 64 bit.

Also photographers are moving more and more to the 64 bit applications that Adobe is putting out (Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.)

So 64 bit is the true way to go in today's world of computing, and as I stated in an earlier post (on this topic) you can always go with a VM to support any 32 bit legacy programs or applications you wan to run.

 

[whs]

Lee, I hear you. For your kind of applications, it certainly makes sense. But for the little $500 laptop I just bought which will be used for simple vanilla applications by my wife (surfing, mail, Word, etc.), it seems like an overkill. But don't get me wrong, I am NOT saying that x64 is bad or anything like that. They just should give us choices. But if you walk into BestBuy these days, you will not find a single system with x86 Win7 - and that is not what I call "choices".

 

[Product FRED]

You are getting advise from both points view, and they are all good, albeit there is really only one way to go and that is 64 bit. Get another 2 gigs of ram (run 4 gigs or more, more is better) then upgrade to a 64 bit Win 7. If for some reason you really need to run a legacy 32 bit program and for some reason it doesn't work within the 64 bit environment then download one of the free VM applications (Virtual PC, or Virtual Box) and set up whatever OS you want (XP, Vista, Win 7) then you will always have a way to run your 32 bit applications. Good luck and good computing.

whs, with a great many companies now starting to put out 64 bit applications (Photoshop, MS Office 2010, etc) it is a good time to make the move. The future is here now for 64 programing. Photoshop in the 64 bit mode is extremely smooth and much faster than 32 bit mode. Office 2010 beta in 64 bit is great. When working with 300 to 1000 page documents in Word there is no slow down or waiting for a document to refresh (it just happens quite rapidly).

Yes for some people 64 bit may be over kill, albeit there are those of us who would not want to go back to 32 bit OS's. After running 64 bit Win 7 in Boot Camp on my iMac 27" and working in the field of publishing there is no way I would ever go back to 32 bit systems. Abobe is going to be putting out CS5 in April, and the cost though high will benefit the work I do just because all the suite will be 64 bit.

Also photographers are moving more and more to the 64 bit applications that Adobe is putting out (Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.)

So 64 bit is the true way to go in today's world of computing, and as I stated in an earlier post (on this topic) you can always go with a VM to support any 32 bit legacy programs or applications you wan to run.

I totally agree with Lee. Whether or not you like it, 64-bit will eventually take over, and we both said, you have various means of continuing to run your 32-bit applications. The fact is that 64-bit allows more data to be processed than 32-bit and that is a clear advantage.

Oh and what you said about 4GB of RAM in a 32-bit system? A 32-bit version of Windows will only see and be able to use about 3.5GB of RAM, so it would be a waste of an investment to have that setup. Using at least 4GB of RAM on a 64-bit system isn't a tradeoff since it runs extremely smooth that way, so you can't say that requiring more RAM is a bad thing. And like I said, this is just like any other technological transition. Don't people buy new graphics cards to support new versions of DirectX? That's just one of many examples. You can't stand still in an always-moving market.

 

[whs]

Oh and what you said about 4GB of RAM in a 32-bit system? A 32-bit version of Windows will only see and be able to use about 3.5GB of RAM

I know that, but so what? And again, nothing wrong with x64 - where it makes sense.

 

[Product FRED]

I'm not doubting your computer knowledge at all, just saying 64-bit is becoming the new standard.

 

[whs]

I'm not doubting your computer knowledge at all, just saying 64-bit is becoming the new standard.

I know that Fred. But the point was about "going with the times". In my long life I have learned that it is not always to your advantage if you jump on every new bandwagon. Sometimes it is wise to wait and see. Like a never buy a brand new car model. I always wait a couple of years to see how it is performing.