32bit vs. 64 bit?

GarIT

So I bought a new laptop yesterday and I've realised that its only 32bit win 7 pro. It has a i5 2.66ghz processor, 4gb of ram and an nvidia geforce 330m 1gb graphics card, is it worth upgrading to 64 bit windows, will it make any difference?

Kinetic^

The windows OEM product key on the COA (certificate of authentication) on the base of the laptop will work with 32 or 64 bit. With Windows 7, a normal retail disk will work with the OEM key as well so if you know anyone with a disk you could borrow it to install the 64 bit version.

cookie1977

GarIT wrote: »

So I bought a new laptop yesterday and I've realised that its only 32bit win 7 pro. It has a i5 2.66ghz processor, 4gb of ram and an nvidia geforce 330m 1gb graphics card, is it worth upgrading to 64 bit windows, will it make any difference?

To be honest it won't do any harm but you're not going to notice a lot of difference. It's only with data hungry 64 bit optimised programs that it'll help and even then if you were using them you'd probably need more ram. But I run x64 win 7 pro on my dual core 2.3ghz processor with 4gb ram.

GarIT

Kinetic^ wrote: »

if you know anyone with a disk

That's the first problem, I don't know anyone with the disc, and I'm wondering if it will be worth the effort. As for heavy applications I'll probably be using it for graphic design and 3D modelling so I suppose it will be heave use.

cookie1977

GarIT wrote: »

That's the first problem, I don't know anyone with the disc, and I'm wondering if it will be worth the effort. As for heavy applications I'll probably be using it for graphic design and 3D modelling so I suppose it will be heave use.

Then you may need more ram for this as 4gb's is the minimum req. for windows 7 x64. What specs does the software require?

GarIT

cookie1977 wrote: »

4gb's is the minimum req. for windows 7 x64. What specs does the software require?

I'm using a laptop with 2GB of DDR2 and Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit. The software has minimum requirements of 1GB + 2ghz processor 32bit, 2GB + 2.4ghz processor. Both only support nvidia quattro cards or ATI FirePro cards, but i've seen much lower run it (but slowly). They recomend 6GB of ram for 32bit and 8GB for 64bit, I can easily access more ram though its not a problem.

cookie1977

GarIT wrote: »

I'm using a laptop with 2GB of DDR2 and Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit. The software has minimum requirements of 1GB + 2ghz processor 32bit, 2GB + 2.4ghz processor. Both only support nvidia quattro cards or ATI FirePro cards, but i've seen much lower run it (but slowly). They recomend 6GB of ram for 32bit and 8GB for 64bit, I can easily access more ram though its not a problem.

Then if you're using this software and you're gonna up your am then go for x64

I have win 7 64bit running on a su4100 dual core 1.3mhz chip, 2gb ram - runs fine with no issues.

won't make much difference upgrading to 64 bit. I have ms office and I purposely picked the 32 bit version when buying it as there can be file compatibility issues.

cookie1977

Oh Im sure it'll run fine but you're certainly not benefiting from the x64 system with those specs and in fact you may be better off with a 32 bit system.

cookie1977

cookie1977 wrote: »

Oh Im sure it'll run fine but you're certainly not benefiting from the x64 system with those specs and in fact you may be better off with a 32 bit system.

computer was manufacturer supplied with that spec (Dell). win 7 home premium. runs flawlessly.

GarIT

A friend in HP has access to the 64 bit pro install discs, so I might as well use them when I can get them easily.

jimmycrackcorm

32 bit windows can only address 3gb ram so at least the 64 bit version can take advantage of all the ram. It depends though on whether or not you are actually maximizing the ram.

It also depends on the software you are running, whether it benefits from 64 bit processing.

ricman

You wont notice much difference, 32bit os uses 3.5gig ram, some programs may not run properly on 64bit os,eg older programs,some games are not designed for 64bit mode.

Alanstrainor

ricman wrote: »

You wont notice much difference, 32bit os uses 3.5gig ram, some programs may not run properly on 64bit os,eg older programs,some games are not designed for 64bit mode.

I've been running 64bit for 2 years now, and it's only very old, or obscure software that i have had trouble with. It's something I only very rarely encounter if i'm honest.

scotty_irish

to take advantage of your ram you need the 64 bit OS, 32 bit can address up to 4GB in theory (more like 3-3.5 like already stated). You also have a 1GB graphics card which needs addressing also so you're losing out on a lot. as for windows 7 x64 requiring 4GB ram min, i'm not sure on this but it sounds like complete horsesh*t to me. and if that's the case, i would be rapidly switching to linux!

cookie1977

scotty_irish wrote: »

to take advantage of your ram you need the 64 bit OS, 32 bit can address up to 4GB in theory (more like 3-3.5 like already stated). You also have a 1GB graphics card which needs addressing also so you're losing out on a lot. as for windows 7 x64 requiring 4GB ram min, i'm not sure on this but it sounds like complete horsesh*t to me. and if that's the case, i would be rapidly switching to linux!

Sorry I should clarify it's not a requirement but anything less then 4 and I cant see how you're going get anything out of running a 64bit OS compared to a 32bit OS.

GarIT

I suppose any improvement is worth it really so I think I should switch.

melekalikimaka

GarIT wrote: »

I'm using a laptop with 2GB of DDR2 and Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit. The software has minimum requirements of 1GB + 2ghz processor 32bit, 2GB + 2.4ghz processor. Both only support nvidia quattro cards or ATI FirePro cards, but i've seen much lower run it (but slowly). They recomend 6GB of ram for 32bit and 8GB for 64bit, I can easily access more ram though its not a problem.

why are you using a 64bit os for 2gb of ram?

GarIT

melekalikimaka wrote: »

why are you using a 64bit os for 2gb of ram?

It was just after the release of windows 7 and 64bit sounded better because it was a higher number