32 or 64 bit?

[BatchFile]

Put simply, If we don't have any 64 bit programs on our workstations, is there any point in installing 64 bit Windows 7 on them?

[cromertech]

None

 

To expand a bit 64 bit is only of use if you have more than 4 Gb memory or 64bit only programs that will use this memory and processor optimally.

 

If you don't 32 bit is fine and is what is install on all of our workstations. Mine is 64 bit but for the above reasons (I have 6Gb and Photoshop 64bit)

 

edit: that might actually be 3Gb memory not 4

[Hightower]

You could go 64-bit though for future-proofing I suppose. i.e. if you have 2GB RAM but may increase it in the future, or just simply to be ready for when everything is 64-bit and 32-bit has gone the way of the master system

[teejay]

If you have a load of old software like we have and don't want to use something like App-V, then go 32-bit.

[JaTayler]

None

 

edit: that might actually be 3Gb memory not 4

 

I think you're right Cromertech, the 32-Bit version will only allow you to utilise up to 3GB RAM - 64-Bit will allow the use of more than that.

 

We have mostly 64-Bit machines at my workplace, however we have had to downgrade some machines to 32-Bit as they use applications which have a 16-Bit application installed :S

 

Having the additional memoray usage in the 64-Bit machines is definitely a bonus though if you decide to install it

[BatchFile]

Cheers guys, that's what I thought but just wanted to check

[sacrej]

also, 32bit versions of programs can only utilize a certain amount of memory 2-3gigs tops I think, for example Photoshop 64bit will utilize a lot more if given access to it.

memory footprints are generally a bit larger for 64bit apps, so really 4 gig would be a minimum, I have six in my work machine, but my home has 4gig and I run stuff like cinema 4d x64 and photoshop x64 without any issues, although on big jobs and processes the more memory the better.

 

for photo & video editing and anything requiring rendering (CAD, CG etc), in an ideal world I would give them minimum of 8gig plus x64... but that's wishful thinking. darn those budgets!

 

on our 2gig curric machines we use x32 but for staff laptops we're thinking of rolling out x64.

[Arthur]

None

I wouldn't say none.

 

64-bit versions of Windows are more secure due to features such as Kernel Patch Protection, mandatory driver signing and hardware-enforced DEP for native 64-bit apps. Unless you have ancient software/hardware, there's absolutely no reason to go with the 32-bit version of Windows.

[GREED]

Depends if you want to be rebuilding your machine(s) in the future, as mentioned above future-proofing should not be overlooked. Then if you have 64bit, why not start using 64bit Office (although I don't know if all the bugs have been sorted with this yet!), Photoshop, etc.

 

*EDIT: I retract my statement about using Office 64bit... it is still full of compatibility issues!

Edited March 5, 2011 by GREED

[john]

 

*EDIT: I retract my statement about using Office 64bit... it is still full of compatibility issues!

 

MS don't even recommend it yet from what I read in the summer, it seems its more a beta product that's not a beta product lol

 

Most of our PCs are 64 bit at work, they work well and are reliable and we have no issues, they seem to be a lot more robust and resilient than the 32 bit ones we have.

[GREED]

MS don't even recommend it yet from what I read in the summer, it seems its more a beta product that's not a beta product lol

 

Most of our PCs are 64 bit at work, they work well and are reliable and we have no issues, they seem to be a lot more robust and resilient than the 32 bit ones we have.

 

Hence my above retraction, technically it will work fine, but the lack of integration with other products and add-ons makes it somewhat pointless.

[AngryTechnician]

Unless you have ancient software/hardware, there's absolutely no reason to go with the 32-bit version of Windows.

And by "ancient hardware", read "a printer bought 3 years ago". A distressing number of peripherals (not just printers) don't have working 64-bit drivers. Check your inventory before making a decision.

[SYNACK]

And by "ancient hardware", read "a printer bought 3 years ago". A distressing number of peripherals (not just printers) don't have working 64-bit drivers. Check your inventory before making a decision.

 

Yeap, substitute old hardware with excriment hardware. I have 6-7 year old hp servers that work perfectly with 64 bit windows but drop in something like an adaptec card which thet drop support for the second it leaves the factory and your stuffed.

 

Scanners and cheap/bad printers along with aweful edu specific hardware are the main concerns. Of corse all printers are bad but some are worse than others. For example many copiers will not support the latest drivers untill they get a firmware upgrade and even then their support can be dodgey (toshiba). Cheaper home grade printers can also cause issues.

 

Drivers for internal pc components are mostly integrated intobwindows with almost all that are not automatically downloaded from Windows update.

 

Overall though I would recommend going x64 on anything that can take it, it is more secure, more stable and uses more of the cpus capibilities (registers etc.) meaning that certain stuff runs faster. It also means that you are prepping for the future and confronting any issues with current and future hardware now even if you can't go 64 now you need to be making the right decisions now to enable you to in future.

[Arthur]

If manufacturers can't be bothered to write 64-bit drivers then they deserve to be boycotted. Vista x64 was released over four years ago so they don't really have any excuses.

[localzuk]

If manufacturers can't be bothered to write 64-bit drivers then they deserve to be boycotted. Vista x64 was released over four years ago so they don't really have any excuses.

 

And XP 64bit came out several years before then, so they've had plenty of time to get into the 64bit world.

[azc]

Adobe Creative Suite 5 is 64-bit only, so you've got no choice if you plan on using new version of Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc.

[BatchFile]

Adobe Creative Suite 5 is 64-bit only, so you've got no choice if you plan on using new version of Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc.

 

New version of Photoshop HA! we're still on V6!

[JJonas]

Adobe Creative Suite 5 is 64-bit only, so you've got no choice if you plan on using new version of Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc.

 

No not true. Premiere and After effects are 64-bit only but they give you the CS4 versions of those as well. So you can run those if you have 32-bit. Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc run fine on 32-bit

[Norphy]

If manufacturers can't be bothered to write 64-bit drivers then they deserve to be boycotted. Vista x64 was released over four years ago so they don't really have any excuses.

 

If manufacturers can't be bothered to write 64 bit drivers, the manufacturers won't get their drivers signed by Microsoft. The moral of the story here is, don't buy cheap unbranded crap and you'll be ok!

[oxide54]

Adobe Creative Suite 5 is 64-bit only, so you've got no choice if you plan on using new version of Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc.

 

no its not, i 've got installed on xp32

[oxide54]

don't 16bit programs not work in 64bit windows? didn't they get rid of the 16/32 WOW

[Norphy]

16 bit compatibility has indeed been removed from 64 bit windows. The only way to get it back it to use a virtualisation package. Even AppV won't help you there.

[Pottsey]

If manufacturers can't be bothered to write 64 bit drivers, the manufacturers won't get their drivers signed by Microsoft. The moral of the story here is, don't buy cheap unbranded crap and you'll be ok!

Would you call Epson cheap unbranded crap? I just found out the hard way they don’t support 64-bit and the drivers they have don't work. I figured I would upgrade our server to Win Server 2008 64-bit and no clients can print to it due to the lack of workinig driver support.

 

It’s not just the cheap unbranded stuff there is a surprising amount of larger brands that don’t offer support. Some offer drivers but not support if the drivers fail to work.

Edited March 21, 2011 by Pottsey

[localzuk]

Would you call Epson cheap unbranded crap? I just found out the hard way they don’t support 64-bit and the drivers they have don't work. I figured I would upgrade our server to Win Server 2008 64-bit and no clients can print to it due to the lack of driver support.

 

It’s not just the cheap unbranded stuff there is a surprising amount of larger brands that don’t offer support.

 

How old are the printers in question?

[Pottsey]

Not sure on age. It’s the Epson AcuLaser C4200DTN one of the main laser printers they sell. There are no newer or better replacement versions.