Windows 7 - 32 or 64 Bit?

[Smudger]

Hi, I've just got Windows 7, and noticed you get a choice of 32 or 64 bit. I know that 64 bit frees up about 750mb of memory if you have 4gb, but are there any other benefits/pitfalls?

Will all my games, Office Xp etc still run in 64 bit?

[lodore]

all main stream applications should work on 64bit.
ive used vista 64bit for around a year i think and upgraded that machine to 7 yesterday.
you can always type a list and we can help you check.

[MSIC]

As a rule of thumb, if you are intending to install older software on a machine and will have no more than 4 GB or RAM, i'd advise 32 bit, purely for less headaches in the short term.

64bit would be a better idea if you planned on keeping the machine for the longer term and may need to upgrade the memory, say, in 3 years or so when it's all alot cheaper.

[nichomach]

Can I suggest that the XP Mode VM is a good way around compatibility issues, if you're running an appropriate version of 7? I'm using it to run (don't laugh...well, OK, do...) Microsoft Navision v4 SP3 which simply won't launch under 7.

[dangel]

As a rule of thumb, if you are intending to install older software on a machine and will have no more than 4 GB or RAM, i'd advise 32 bit, purely for less headaches in the short term.

3, not 4 - that's the point where things start to 'pinch' memory as a general rule. Remember all the posts we get on here about it are almost always from those with 4GB and 32bit windows saying "where's me memory gone?"

[slinger]

Ive been using 64-bit versions of Windows since XP 64-bit edition first came out (5 years ago?), then onto Vista Ultimate 64 on teh day of launch nearly 3 years ago and now Windows 7 64. In all that time I have only experience problems with 2 things, firstly the Creative drivers (or lack of) for the Audigy soundcard I had at the time I was using XP 64, secondly for an old Mustek scanner that had no 64-bit support from Mustek. These are the only 2 things in all that time that I have had problems with. If you have a 64-bit processor there is absolutely no reason why you should be choosing 32-bit over 64-bit, that is unless you are dependant on an application that you know will not run on 64-bit.

[Syllopsium]

Hi, I've just got Windows 7, and noticed you get a choice of 32 or 64 bit. I know that 64 bit frees up about 750mb of memory if you have 4gb, but are there any other benefits/pitfalls?

Will all my games, Office Xp etc still run in 64 bit?

64 bit should be fine in 99% of cases. Choose based on your amount of memory :

1GB 32 bit
2GB 64 bit, unless you're running extremely memory hungry apps or games - then 32 bit
3GB+ 64 bit.

Or even better, upgrade your memory to 4GB and use 64 bit.

PK

[Syllopsium]

Can I suggest that the XP Mode VM is a good way around compatibility issues, if you're running an appropriate version of 7? I'm using it to run (don't laugh...well, OK, do...) Microsoft Navision v4 SP3 which simply won't launch under 7.

According to a quick look around the web, Navision v4 SP3 will work under 7, provided you have a fairly recent build.

I can't think of anything off hand, that didn't work in Vista and thus Windows 7, although I have had to let some apps run as admin, add write support to their home directories, etc at times.

PK

[nichomach]

I know it should, but I equally know that on my system it doesn't .

[pp05]

Hi, I've just got Windows 7, and noticed you get a choice of 32 or 64 bit. I know that 64 bit frees up about 750mb of memory if you have 4gb, but are there any other benefits/pitfalls?

Will all my games, Office Xp etc still run in 64 bit?

List the apps.

If you have old hardware that has unsigned drivers - 32bit might be better bet.
There are not many 64bit applications out yet.

[shaithis]

As far as the XP compatability mode goes - it's pure awesomeness and is a great workaround to any 7/Vista/64bit compatability issues. The only caveat with it though is that you cannot run 3D-accelerated applications through it.

[nightkhaos]

As far as the XP compatability mode goes - it's pure awesomeness and is a great workaround to any 7/Vista/64bit compatability issues. The only caveat with it though is that you cannot run 3D-accelerated applications through it.

This problem relates to pretty much every virtual machine on the market.

[lodore]

This problem relates to pretty much every virtual machine on the market.

well virtualbox and vmware both have experimental support.

[MSIC]

3, not 4 - that's the point where things start to 'pinch' memory as a general rule. Remember all the posts we get on here about it are almost always from those with 4GB and 32bit windows saying "where's me memory gone?"

Well, yes, you are right. Or actually, nearly right anyway (since its just over 3).
But i was talking in broad terms, for simplicity.

[dangel]

Well, yes, you are right. Or actually, nearly right anyway (since its just over 3).
But i was talking in broad terms, for simplicity.

So was I - and generally people hit problems a ~3gb - and whether it's just over depends on their hardware (e.g. a 1gb graphics card will make sure it's below 3gb). Nobody get's 4gb on 32bit period

[Zef]

The 64 bit version will generally run 32 bit programs fine. The main pitfall is the driver situation, so check that 64 bit drivers are available before installing. As for the benefit, it's better performance with stuff that's been specifically written for 64 bit. Basically 64 bit versions of high end software and games will be faster (in theory). A few years ago it just wasn't worth the hassle for most people but now I'd say go for 64 bit.