Windows 7 32Bit or 64Bit?

[stemot]

My missus has just bought Windows 7 for me. Now I don't actually plan to update until I can get everything backed up and the right drivers downloaded ready. Plus I have to buy a new USB Wireless dongle as my current one does not properly support Windows 7. I got two versions in the pack, 32Bit and 64Bit. So which one do I install when the time comes? I have heard that with earlier OS the 64Bit versions caused problems whereas the 32Bit versions were always stable, so which version do people on here have installed?
If my system makes a difference, my specs are:-
AMD Phenom II 940 3Ghz,
Geforce XFX GTX260,
3GB Ram.

Are there any great benefits to running a 64Bit OS over 32Bit?

 

[CyberPitz]

I threw on x64, and it's working rather well.

programs will run a bit faster for ya, according to everybody else. I've not noticed any insane speed increases, since I don't do anything specific for that...I just game and surf the net.

 

[stemot]

I threw on x64, and it's working rather well.

programs will run a bit faster for ya, according to everybody else. I've not noticed any insane speed increases, since I don't do anything specific for that...I just game and surf the net.

Have you had any major compatibility problems thus far with programs or games? I always worry about installing a new OS.

 

[15357]

x64 here, and um... some programs won't run, including some antivirus programs.....


Also, I'm trying to get Daemon Tools to work, without much success..... You have to get x64 versions of some programs.

 

[kupocake]

Have you had any major compatibility problems thus far with programs or games? I always worry about installing a new OS.

7 isn't that system, because even the least cynical person must admit that Vista was a kind of commercial compatibility test for Windows 7. Having ironed out all the problems with Vista drivers, Microsoft didn't rock the boat and most - if not all - 'Vista' drivers automatically work with Windows 7, and there are probably a few more drivers in there besides.

I purchased Vista a year ago, and there were still components not working in my PC. Moving to 7 (on a wiped drive), there wasn't a single thing astray. As they say 'it just worked'.

Same goes for 64-bit. There really is no reason to stick with 32-bit if your PC supports it, though the immediate benefits on a machine that is specifically at the RAM limit for the 32-bit OS may not strictly be noticeable.

edit: There is a small subset of 64-bit incompatible games, typically Windows 95 titles that don't also run in DOS (so they can't be routed through DOSbox). Last game I remember trying like this was Tyrian 2000. The 64-bit OS can handle most 32-bit apps, and unlike Numbers, I've yet to come across them yet.

 

[DreamThrall]

I haven't had problems running daemon tools on win7 x64. When I ran the installer, I got a prompt about "known issues with this application", but after I clicked it away, it was fine. I think I might've gotten the same prompt the first time it ran after install, but no issues after that.

 

[15357]

Ah, the installer that I got from Daemon Tools site was corrupt. Dled from someplace else, and now it's fine.


As for other programs.... most of them seem to work fine, unfortunately some applications don't seem to be going along with the times and include x64 support.

 

[stemot]

7 isn't that system, because even the least cynical person must admit that Vista was a kind of commercial compatibility test for Windows 7. Having ironed out all the problems with Vista drivers, Microsoft didn't rock the boat and most - if not all - 'Vista' drivers automatically work with Windows 7, and there are probably a few more drivers in there besides.

I purchased Vista a year ago, and there were still components not working in my PC. Moving to 7 (on a wiped drive), there wasn't a single thing astray. As they say 'it just worked'.

Same goes for 64-bit. There really is no reason to stick with 32-bit if your PC supports it, though the immediate benefits on a machine that is specifically at the RAM limit for the 32-bit OS may not strictly be noticeable.

edit: There is a small subset of 64-bit incompatible games, typically Windows 95 titles that don't also run in DOS (so they can't be routed through DOSbox). Last game I remember trying like this was Tyrian 2000. The 64-bit OS can handle most 32-bit apps, and unlike Numbers, I've yet to come across them yet.

That's good to know. I don't plan on running anything that old either, so I guess 64bit is the way to go, then I can finally get more than 3GB of Ram . Thanks fellas.

 

[Krynn72]

32 Bit Systems will be pretty much dead after windows 7 gets mainstream. Only haggard old XP systems will be left, lingering in someone's parents house.

 

[Operational]

I've been on Vista 64bit for almost 2 years, no major issues. I'm sure that for Win7 the 64bit version is the way to go, especially since you want more than 3GB of RAM.

7 isn't that system, because even the least cynical person must admit that Vista was a kind of commercial compatibility test for Windows 7. Having ironed out all the problems with Vista drivers, Microsoft didn't rock the boat and most - if not all - 'Vista' drivers automatically work with Windows 7, and there are probably a few more drivers in there besides.

There is no question that Vista's driver issues (mostly due to it being released well before everyone was ready) helps Win7 to launch more smoothly.
To be fair though, its not uncommon for MS to keep the same kernel (and thus drivers) around for more than one major OS, eg 95->98, Win2000->WinXP.

 

[kupocake]

To be fair though, its not uncommon for MS to keep the same kernel (and thus drivers) around for more than one major OS, eg 95->98, Win2000->WinXP.

I was sure there was some precedent or other for that.

 

[PJ]

If you are planning to upgrade your RAM to 4GB+ soonish, definitely get 64bit.

If you are planning to stick with 3GB for the next couple of years, go with 32bit, as there is not much point in 64bit ATM, and 32bit Windows 7 is what I'm using now. When I was using 64bit Vista, I had countless problems.

It's a good idea to reinstall an OS every 1/2 years anyway, so if you decide to upgrade your RAM, and your are using 32bit, you'll get the benefit of a speedier new install of windows afterwards anyway.

 

[stemot]

Ram is so cheap now that I can pick up another gig anytime, so I will be installing 64bit

 

[CyberPitz]

Have you had any major compatibility problems thus far with programs or games? I always worry about installing a new OS.

Not yet!

 

[DEATH eVADER]

Just be aware I have heard of people, including myself, who have not managed to get USB wireless network adapters to work in 64 bit version of Win7

 

[tesher06]

I have Vista 32 bit and am planning to upgrade. Is it possible to go from 32 bit vista to 64 bit 7?

 

[staticprimer]

You'll have to do a clean install.

 

[tesher06]

Even if it's 7 Ultimate?

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Even if it's 7 Ultimate?

Correct.

32-bit to 64-bit upgrade is just plain not allowed.

What you can do is use Windows Easy Transfer and basically "export" your programs and documents onto another computer, format, do a clean install and then reimport them off that other computer.