Windows 7

Here's the problem,

my copy of Windows 7 has arrived, which version do I install?

I'm currently running XP 32 bit, is it worth moving to 64 bit with the new OS?

What are the benefits?

64 bit is faster but you can only use it with a 64 bit CPU/memory architecture.

Which shouldn't be a problem unless you're computer is a 486 or possibly an early Pentium...

Nope, it's a quad core AMD thingy with 2gig watsits.

Hi Hardgravity!

It's all down to what you'll use the PC for and what memory you'll use.

32bit Windows (be it XP, Vista or 7) will only ever recognise a maximum of 4GB of memory - be it RAM, video card memory, sound card memory etc - it's all part of the same pool as far as the 4GB limit goes.

64bit Windows can support 128GB of memory, so of course gives you more long term options...but you will only see the benefit of going with a 64bit platform with software specifically written to take advantage of it. In a great deal of cases, going with a 64bit OS might lead to driver instability too (depending on your hardware).

In my own experience I have found that 64bit Windows counterparts (especially Vista) have been more problematic, and that their 32 bit versions have been rock solid.

But i'll be changing from Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit to it's 64bit brother very soon as I'm getting 4GB 1066MHz DDR2 to replace my 2GB DDR2 800MHz, and I have no alternative.

I want to overclock my Q6600 a bit more, but my memory is currently holding it back, hence the upgrade.

From what I've seen in the time i've been using Windows 7 since January though I fully expect Windows 7 64 to be a million times more reliable than Vista 64.

To conclude.....if you dont expect to be plonking more memory in your system anytime soon, i'd personally opt for the 32 bit version.

Thanks Bob, that makes sense.

I've no intention of upping the memory in the near future so 32bit it is then.

I can always opt for the 64bit version latter( I assume that as I've paid for a FULL version Microsoft will let me!)

You may not plan on upgrading your memory (or watsits) anytime soon, but it is one of the cheaper upgrades. Even if you plan on going 32bit (which is what I'm running) then with the price of memory these days it's definately worth upgrading to the maximum 4Gb.

Just my 2 cents!

I noticed that Windows 8 will have a 128bit edition! I can't be bothered to work out how much memory that will support!

I don't think the alleged 64bit memory plane on the Pentium and later chips counts. I think the CPU has to support x86_64 instructions, therefore it has to be either an AMD Athlon64/Opteron/Phenom or an Intel Core2/i7/i5/late P4?

even so there aren't that many AthlonXP/Intel Core and earlier chips still flying about and those machines which do still run probably have other reasons for not upgrading to the latest version of Windoze.

So far as I know all AMD quads are 64bit so you don't have to worry a thing.

here is the list if you want to be sure.
AMD Athlon 64
AMD Athlon 64 X2
AMD Athlon 64 FX
AMD Athlon II
AMD Opteron
AMD Turion 64
AMD Turion 64 X2
AMD Sempron ("Palermo" E6 stepping and all "Manila" models)
AMD Phenom, often followed by X3 or X4 to indicate the number of cores.
AMD Phenom II, (45 nm) often followed by X2 or X3 or X4 to indicate the number of cores.

so I would recommend installing 64bit, it runs very well.

Yes and they will drop 32bit support as well, so only 64bit and 128bit over some years.

Very very interesting....

About 38 TerraBytes

To make it more interesting, there are programs coming that only can run on 64bit OS, microsoft exchange 2010 is one of them.
I also see Adobe making 64bit only versions quite soon, certainly when the programs demands more of the system then the older ones can provide.
So why support 32bit while the hardware needed to run it can also run 64bit?

speaking of the devil link