Win 7 - 32 or 64 Bit

[Paid_Peanuts]

When it comes to Windows 7 is there any point installing the 64bit version?
I dont run many things other than the usual Office 2007 suite, the usual MMC consoles etc.

[kmount]

I'd ask whether there was any point in installing the 32bit version really..

If your hardware supports it, I'd install it.

[AngryTechnician]

I'd ask whether there was any point in installing the 32bit version really..

If your hardware supports it, I'd install it.

Just make sure you check ALL your hardware. Some manufacturers are still guilty of not providing 64-bit drivers for products they launched only in the last few years. Pay particular attention to peripherals such as low-end printers and video capture hardware such as TV tuner cards or webcams.

[Potato-Peeler]

The main reason to buy 64 bit in my eyes is the extra ram issue, no longer limited to 4 GB, if your not going to use more than 4 GB is there really much point? Plus as above there is the whole 64 bit drivers issues.

[Theblacksheep]

Why cant MS just sell Windows 7 and you can choose 32 or 64!

[kmount]

I must be one of *those* people ...

I've ran 64bit Linux for years and put up with the odd driver problems and helped put them right.

The other half has ran 64bit Vista since the old beta's and now 64bit W7 RC and not had a single problem, gamer, etc.

[sparkeh]

As Kim, I have been running 64-bit Linux for years and 64-bit Win7 RC without any problems. Always good practice to check out that all your hardware and software will function though.

Its about time we moved away from 32-bit systems anyway.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Why cant MS just sell Windows 7 and you can choose 32 or 64!

If it's like Vista any license will l cover either 32 or 64 bit. If you buy the OEM version you have to pay a nominal charge for the other disk (or borrow one which is legal since you're licensed). My retail copy of Vista Ultimate has discs for both versions.

[IanT]

If you got 64-bit hardware then go for Windows 7 64-bit.

Everything else is going that way.

I run only 64-bit

[Gerry]

A recent issue of PC Format had an article about the Windows swap file. They saw that with 6Gb of RAM there was hardly any swap activity which leads to much quicker response/loading times. I have a dual-channel mobo so 2x3Gb or 2x4Gb matched pairs aren't very common at the moment

[Theblacksheep]

A recent issue of PC Format had an article about the Windows swap file. They saw that with 6Gb of RAM there was hardly any swap activity which leads to much quicker response/loading times.

I made a friends PC recently: i7 with 6gb and xp 64bit... it was lighting fast and put anything else i've used to shame. 3dsmax, cs4 and some 3d paint package he uses all running as if it had just booting with nothing else. I didnt want to give it to him in the end!

[Arthur]

As mentioned above, it would be better to install the 64-bit version over the 32-bit version. If you ever need to install more RAM in the future, you will be able to make use of it straight away and won't have to re-install Windows to change to the 64-bit edition. I've have had zero problems with both Windows 7 x64 and Vista x64 before that.

Also, 64-bit operating systems are mainstream now (even the £349 laptops that Dell sell have it) plus Windows 8 is almost certainly going to be 64-bit only (like Windows Server 2008 R2 and Exchange 2007 are now).