i went through this decision several months ago before installing Win 7....my concern were the comments i read about incompatibility with some apps & drivers....at first i thought i would install x64 on only 1 of my 3 systems, to try it out....but soon after the first install, i said 'what the heck', and installed it on all 3....i've had zero problems running x64, and to be honest, i never even think about what version i'm running anymore basically, unless you're 100% positive that an app or piece of hardware you use will NOT run under x64, i'd go with x64....and if you think you'll "probably" be upgrading to x64 "soon" anyway, i say just go for it now
I tossed this one together in a hurry, bios crash on other MB. It only has 2 gigs memory. Odd my other puter had 3 gigs and only showed an average of 34% memory in use. This one has 2 gig and only shows an average of 41% memory in use ( I haven't leaned out any programs/services yet either). Both are with 7 x64. I think windows adjusts the amt. of memory it uses by whats available. Just a theory, nothing to back it up. I prefer x64 myself obviously. This puter runs fine on 2 gig. Edit: I also run XP in virtual mode and memory in use still stays around 41-43%.
64 bit software is starting to become available, you'd be a fool just to get thre 32 bit Windows just because there are currently few programmes that have 64 bit versions. There are no advantages from running 32 bit Windows over 64 bit Windows. If there is a programme or new piece of hardware that works on 32 bit and not 64 bit (x64 that is), then its not worth using. All hardware has to support x64 now, if it isn't, bin it - the support for it must be really rats**t. The same goes for programmes, there is no excuse for commercial software not to run properly on x64. Fact. Other Facts: - Windows 7 should never have been released in 32 bit, any recent computer that can't run 64 bit isn't worth running Windows 7 32 bit on it either - Only reason Atom CPU's may not have x64 is simply because Microsoft allows it through providing a 32 bit only version of Windows 7. They should have been 64 bit only, and have it trimmed down to 'netbook' mode using the Minwin principle.
keep 32 bits until the programs u use become available in 64 bits, then you can upgrade the ram to 4 gb and start using 64.
If you have an old computer with max 2gb ram, stay 32 bits! If you have more than 3gb 64 bits is a must!!! From Windows 7 sp1 go 64 bits!!!
I read somewhere if you are using less than 4GB of RAM then its no use to get 64 bit. If you install 32 bit sotware on 64 bit system which you will as there are not many 64 bit software yet then your computer will have to process bit more to convert 32 bit software in to 62 bit first. These days computers have higher processing power so probably you will not notice much difference but 64 bits system is just for using additional memory over 4 GB. So if you have 2 GB RAM then it wont solve any purpose to use 64 bit OS. You said yourself that you wont be using any specialized program so I dont see any point in installing 64 bit with 2 GB of RAM
That depends on a couple of variables. 1. Does your motherboard support more than 3GB of RAM? 2. Is your CPU 64bit capable? If both of these are yes then I would definitely go for the 64bit version in the flavor of your choosing. You really wont see any performance hit by using a 64bit OS on systems with less than 3GB of RAM but with a 32bit OS your RAM is capped by the OS. Also there is no upgrade path from a 32bit OS to a 64bit OS so if sometime in the future you decide go to 64bit it will be a clean instal and trying to rebuild your installation, which can be a real hassle if you have a lot of pics,music, videos or software installed. Just a few things to consider before you choose. Personally I am using 64bit Win7 and am very pleased with the performance and security of my OS>
64bit doesn't hurt you if you have less than 4GB of RAM, and it also allows you the option of adding more RAM down the road without having to format.
Go for 64bit. Mine is also an AMD64bit with 1.25gb ram, but it flies fast with W7 64bit installed no problems at all.
Just run 64 just because you can... LOL... The bragging right baby!!! My Server 2008 R2 is faster and more stable then your Vista 32bits... Hahahaha....
Win 64 bits use more resources, the biggest raison to move to 64 bits is to be able to address more memory so if you don't want to ugrade, 32 bits is your only choice