Windows 7... 32 or 64 bit?

[daddog]

What is the difference? I am looking at buying it and not sure what difference it would make.

[daddog]

Also what service pack are they up to? 1?

[daddog]

I also see Home Premium, Pro, Ultimate, etc. Suggestions?

On EBay I see a OEM W7 Home Premium 32 bit for $75. That sounds like a deal.

[Drone]

My copy of Win7 Home Premium ( from Best Buy ) has a disc for 32 bit and a disc for 64 bit in the same package. Just one key, tho.

Haven't seen a definitive argument of 64 vs. 32 bit, but I'd think that if your hardware handles 64 bit, that's what you should use.  Basically, the number of bits is the width of the digital 'word'.  Moving 64 bit words moves faster than moving 32 bit words.

Actually, it's meaningless unless the software is written for the 64 architecture.. then you'd see a difference.

Unless things have changed since the 'old' 8 bit vs. 16 bit days..lol.

Here's a link to a discussion in that website that had the CPU benchmarks I mentioned in the Win 7 thread:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/237299-44-tomshardware

Check out some of the other discussions in there.. and search.. there were 42000 hits on 32 vs. 64.

I'm going with 64 bit when I do finally switch.

[Harppa]

Am I right, 64 bit Windows can handle RAM better, and there's no limitation with the amount of the RAM ?

I have a 32 bit home premium in my laptop, with 4 Gb RAM, but I think Windows can handle only 3 Gb...

Cheers!
Harppa

[Ghosth]

Harppa is correct. If you have a 1gig video card and 4 gig of system ram you probably want 64 bit.

Other than that there really isn't a lot of point to going to 64 bit unless your using an application that requires it.

[forHIM]

for me, the 64-bit is required for my work apps (VMware running Linux ontop of my Windows install).  While I could have went 32-bit, doing 64-bit ensures I get the most memory usage.

[daddog]

Thanks guys. Sounds like 64 bit would be the way for me to go with my relatively newer system.

[Geo]

dd, did you go 64 bit? I'd like to hear how it goes when you get it up and running...I know you're working on it now. Im considering 64 bit myself, once I can order parts for the new rig.

[daddog]

I have been unable to install Win 7 yet. Another thread.
Will let you know as soon as I do and give you an AAR.

[Ghosth]

Personally, don't see any big advantage to 64 bit.

The only one I really see is the memory limit.

32bit is limited to just over 2 gigs total, that includes video card, sound card, and system mem.

64 bit opens the playing field to use it all. But, finding drivers is not always so easy. So you have to ask yourself how badly you need to use that ram over the 2gig limit.

[Malap]

I use windows 7 64 bit, i have 4 gig of ram and personally I've had little trouble finding drivers.