Windows 7: 64 vs 32 bit

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97tbird

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While thinking about new laptops in the near future, I've been noticing that most of the time, one can choose from win-7 64 or 32 bit versions, without any difference in price....

What criteria should I consider in order to decide which one to go with?
What are the implications, advantages/disadvantages between the 2 versions?

Our laptop use is mostly home use, and some professional use (meaning a few presentations, excel, word stuff; otherwise it's mainly browsing, some photo editing (mild), music, and burning a few DVDs once in a while)

EDIT: well, found this and it helped a bit...looks like for our use, 32 bit might make more sense..
http://www.w7forums.com/windows-7-64-bit-vs-32-bit-t484.html

feel free to comment on your thoughts, too, though.
 
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Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
64


why?
what I really need to know is what criteria should i consider to decide, not really what you think is better/what you have...
BUT because you just said "64", what did you base that decision on?
Thanks IA.
 
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the future of computing is 64bit.
32bit computing has a memory limitation of 3.5gb, whereas 64bit is like 256gb?
The main issue is actually software compatibility. 64-bit software is larger, but does perform faster and more efficiently. However the average person won't realize it.
If you crunch databases.. you'll notice.
A lot of software/games will run on 64bit windows, but older ones probably won't.
My wife is addicted to bejeweled and bookworm. both of the versions I bought a while ago, don't like 64bit windows.
Finding specific 64-bit drivers is a small challenge as well.
Usuallly 32-bit drivers will work. But you're defeating thepurpose of using 64-bit.

To me, until the software industry adopts 64bit as a whole, 32 bit is the way to go at this point.
 
Unless you plan to get rid of your new computer in a year, go 64. 32 bit is already out dated. Like was said, the main issue is compatability with old software. But, most old software still runs on 64 bit systems even if it was made for 32. Your ability to upgrade RAM is limited with 32 bit. With drivers, all the drivers for stuff that comes with your computer (DVD drive, display adapter, LAN adapter, etc.) will be supported for 64 bit if you buy a 64 bit system. The only issue you'd have is with drivers for, say, an old printer.
 
I would go 32-bit. It will be compatible with more of your existing software and peripherals. Very little software you might want to run on your laptop will work better in 64-bit. For example, I got a USB GPS that interfaces to a map that I would not have been able to use with the 64-bit version of Windows 7.

Unless your laptop is going to have more than 4 gig of RAM, I would go 32 bit.
 
4 GB is like the max I would get on my laptop..like i said, our tasks just don't demand more. Probably even 4GB is overkill.
I do have old printers, routers, scanners, etc. I think 32 bit might be the safe option for us...
 
If you buy a netbook, Win7 32 bit is on it.

I have deployed TONS of Win7 64 bit clients. The biggest 'problem' is printer & scanner drivers.

Just make sure the printer you have has 64 bit drivers. Often times, there alternatives that work A-OK even if the vendor doesn't supply them. For example, Xerox 3150 B&W personal laser was never supported on any Windows 64 bit platform. However, HP LJ6 or HP LJ 4050 PCL6 work just fine...use the same driver substitute works on Macs, too.

I have yet to run into anything modern, that is, made for Win32 bit, that doesn't run fine on Win7x64 (or Vista x64 either).

Go 64, don't look back unless you have some peripheral that absolutely will not work on 64 bit Windows.
 
I have not found anything that does not run on 64 bit. Keep in mind, I also bought a 3 pack W7 Home Premium 64 bit to upgrade everyone elses computer to 7 from Vista or XP (all 32bit).No one has said boo.
I agree with ToyotaNSaturn, biggest problem would probably be old printers.
 
Why on earth did they bother making a 32-bit version of Windows 7 in the first place? Maybe they should have made a 16-bit version while they were at it.

Linux has been stable in 64-bit with 64-bit applications for over two years already. Why is Windows behind on this?

32-bit operating systems should be used only to get a legacy computer to work. They should not be used by a software company to sell an inferior, obsolete product at the same price. How many legacy computers can actually use Windows 7? I do know that many legacy computers can use a 32-bit version of Linux without any hiccups.
 
Originally Posted By: Garak
Why on earth did they bother making a 32-bit version of Windows 7 in the first place? Maybe they should have made a 16-bit version while they were at it.

Linux has been stable in 64-bit with 64-bit applications for over two years already. Why is Windows behind on this?

32-bit operating systems should be used only to get a legacy computer to work. They should not be used by a software company to sell an inferior, obsolete product at the same price. How many legacy computers can actually use Windows 7? I do know that many legacy computers can use a 32-bit version of Linux without any hiccups.

Windows 7 runs smooth as butter on my old Pentium 4 HT 3.2.
Interestingly, I have not had any problems using 64bit keys on 32bit installs or vise-versa.
 
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Windows 7 runs smooth as butter on my old Pentium 4 HT 3.2. Interestingly, I have not had any problems using 64bit keys on 32bit installs or vise-versa.


Okay, I guess I'm getting old. When I'm talking about legacy computers, I didn't mean Pentium 4. Such a beast is far from cutting edge or a wonderful gaming platform, but it is still a very capable computer. Did you actually buy Windows 7 32-bit just for that computer? The OS is worth more than the computer.
wink.gif


I'm talking a little older than that, yet. I've got an old Pentium II kicking around that works just fine on 32-bit Linux. Of course, it would run XP without any hitches, either, I'm sure, if I decided to go that route. I don't think I'd even attempt Windows 7 on it. For my Pentium D, I've been running 64-bit Linux since I got it.
 
Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Windows 7 runs smooth as butter on my old Pentium 4 HT 3.2. Interestingly, I have not had any problems using 64bit keys on 32bit installs or vise-versa.


Okay, I guess I'm getting old. When I'm talking about legacy computers, I didn't mean Pentium 4. Such a beast is far from cutting edge or a wonderful gaming platform, but it is still a very capable computer. Did you actually buy Windows 7 32-bit just for that computer? The OS is worth more than the computer.
wink.gif


I'm talking a little older than that, yet. I've got an old Pentium II kicking around that works just fine on 32-bit Linux. Of course, it would run XP without any hitches, either, I'm sure, if I decided to go that route. I don't think I'd even attempt Windows 7 on it. For my Pentium D, I've been running 64-bit Linux since I got it.

I thought you were saying that legacy == pre64bit.
I dont even think it would let you install on something as old as a PII.
No, I used the beta until it expired. It has Vista Ultimate (64bit key, lol) on it now...
 
Originally Posted By: tmorris1
Windows 7 32-bit won't even allow you to access all 4GB of that RAM.


Neither will 64 bit. More will be available of course, but some room above 3GB is saved for BIOS shadowing and video remapping.

I have a desktop with 8GB of RAM on it, it shows 7.5GB usable.

Depends on the BIOS too.
 
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
Originally Posted By: tmorris1
Windows 7 32-bit won't even allow you to access all 4GB of that RAM.


Neither will 64 bit. More will be available of course, but some room above 3GB is saved for BIOS shadowing and video remapping.

I have a desktop with 8GB of RAM on it, it shows 7.5GB usable.

Depends on the BIOS too.

64-bit is using that memory, but it is for the operating system and not available to the user. You must have BIOS and video
shadowing turned on in the BIOS or else you have video that is sharing system RAM.

The point is that 32-bit physically can't address the memory where 64-bit can. The memory is getting used in 64-bit whereas in 32 bit it will not. My 64-bit install with 4GB shows a total of 4GB available for use. I have an external video card so no memory if shared.
 
64 bit. I've been using it since Windows XP 64 bit, and that was the worst one. I have not yet found more than a very small handful of programs that are incompatible with 64 bit Win7. I have 4GB of RAM, and it sees the full thing. Versus 32 which only saw 3.25GB. I recall reading that 80% of windows 7 computers sold are 64 bit, and we aren't hearing about all the incompatability, are we?
 
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