Should I install Windows 7 in 32bit or 64bit?

karhoe · 2nd Aug 2009, 10:34 AM

As we all know, 7 is coming out, the RTM is already out.

I am eager to try it out, and I am considering 64bit, I have some questions here.

1) Will it impact on my performance running 32bit apps on 64bit? Like running 32bit games on 64bit?

2) Will running 64bit version of the application on 64bit OS be faster? For instance running Photoshop in 64bit compared to 32bit, is there difference in the performance?

Any other matter I should consider?

Thanks

Chai · 2nd Aug 2009, 04:56 PM

x86-64 is just a subset of x86-32 architecture, so all x86 written application will work just fine and there will not be any compatibility issues.

In short, no there's no impact. Why not you try it and tell us?

If it's a big problem, none of us would be using 64bit already. Your only concern is hardware drivers.

karhoe · 2nd Aug 2009, 06:33 PM

Sure, give me a week or two, I'll try it out

Well, I believe almost every hardwares in the market comes with 64bit drivers already.

Because I read somewhere, saying that 32bit will run in 64bit environment via emulation, which does not work that good at times

Adrian Wong · 2nd Aug 2009, 08:28 PM

If there's any issue, it would be with 64-bit drivers. This would be a problem for really old hardware but such hardware would not even have 32-bit Windows 7 drivers, much less 64-bit ones.

64-bit applications should run faster but only because it enables the applications to access and utilize more memory. There should be no performance issues where 32-bit games are concerned.

Chai · 2nd Aug 2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karhoe

Sure, give me a week or two, I'll try it out

Well, I believe almost every hardwares in the market comes with 64bit drivers already.

Because I read somewhere, saying that 32bit will run in 64bit environment via emulation, which does not work that good at times

That is not true.

The emulation is only meant for those applications that are coded using really old codes.

karhoe · 3rd Aug 2009, 02:52 PM

What about performance wise?

Assuming using the same hardware, which would run faster?

Photoshop 32bit running on 32bit OS
Photoshop 64bit running on 64bit OS
Photoshop 32bit running on 64bit OS

Chai · 3rd Aug 2009, 03:17 PM

Definitely 64bit on 64bit. Running 32bit software is the same, doesn't matter what OS.

Lacus · 3rd Aug 2009, 09:37 PM

Running Win 7 64 bit here...so far there are not much issue around.Find it better than Vista for some reason (low memory usage, like xp XD )ooh, so far i only found 1 issue, 1 of the program i always used, is not working on 64 bit os (both Vista and Win 7)

karhoe · 3rd Aug 2009, 09:41 PM

Hmm, why does that happen if 32 bit software is supported by 64 bit OS? Is your software the very 'old' type ?

Chai · 4th Aug 2009, 12:18 AM

So far I haven't really encounter programs that don't work on Vista, that hasn't got a newer replacement.

2nd Aug 2009, 10:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
karhoe Active Join Date: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 601 Reputation: 11 Rep Power: 3	Should I install Windows 7 in 32bit or 64bit? As we all know, 7 is coming out, the RTM is already out. I am eager to try it out, and I am considering 64bit, I have some questions here. 1) Will it impact on my performance running 32bit apps on 64bit? Like running 32bit games on 64bit? 2) Will running 64bit version of the application on 64bit OS be faster? For instance running Photoshop in 64bit compared to 32bit, is there difference in the performance? Any other matter I should consider? Thanks __________________ My Blog SPM Timetable 2009

2nd Aug 2009, 04:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,884 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	x86-64 is just a subset of x86-32 architecture, so all x86 written application will work just fine and there will not be any compatibility issues. In short, no there's no impact. Why not you try it and tell us? If it's a big problem, none of us would be using 64bit already. Your only concern is hardware drivers. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

2nd Aug 2009, 06:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
karhoe Active Join Date: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 601 Reputation: 11 Rep Power: 3	Sure, give me a week or two, I'll try it out Well, I believe almost every hardwares in the market comes with 64bit drivers already. Because I read somewhere, saying that 32bit will run in 64bit environment via emulation, which does not work that good at times __________________ My Blog SPM Timetable 2009

2nd Aug 2009, 08:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,304 Reputation: 3574 Rep Power: 75	If there's any issue, it would be with 64-bit drivers. This would be a problem for really old hardware but such hardware would not even have 32-bit Windows 7 drivers, much less 64-bit ones. 64-bit applications should run faster but only because it enables the applications to access and utilize more memory. There should be no performance issues where 32-bit games are concerned. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

3rd Aug 2009, 02:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
karhoe Active Join Date: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 601 Reputation: 11 Rep Power: 3	What about performance wise? Assuming using the same hardware, which would run faster? Photoshop 32bit running on 32bit OS Photoshop 64bit running on 64bit OS Photoshop 32bit running on 64bit OS __________________ My Blog SPM Timetable 2009

3rd Aug 2009, 03:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,884 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	Definitely 64bit on 64bit. Running 32bit software is the same, doesn't matter what OS. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

3rd Aug 2009, 09:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lacus Super Active Join Date: 28 Mar 2008 Location: Some gundam factory o.o Posts: 1,302 Reputation: 180 Rep Power: 4	Running Win 7 64 bit here...so far there are not much issue around.Find it better than Vista for some reason (low memory usage, like xp XD )ooh, so far i only found 1 issue, 1 of the program i always used, is not working on 64 bit os (both Vista and Win 7) __________________ GUNDAM 00[Intel Xeon E3110 E0 Stock\|Asus Rampage Maximus Formula (Rampage Bios Mod)\|Gigabyte HD4850 512MB GDDR3+T-Rad2\|4x2gb DDR2 1000Mhz OCZ SLI-Ready Edition\|Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB\|Creative X-FI XtremeMusic\|Creative Inspire P5800\|Silverstone Strider ST56F\|Acer X233H\|Keyboard=Microsoft Sidewinder X6\|Logitech MX518\|Lian Li PC-7YCF]

3rd Aug 2009, 09:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
karhoe Active Join Date: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 601 Reputation: 11 Rep Power: 3	Hmm, why does that happen if 32 bit software is supported by 64 bit OS? Is your software the very 'old' type ? __________________ My Blog SPM Timetable 2009

4th Aug 2009, 12:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,884 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	So far I haven't really encounter programs that don't work on Vista, that hasn't got a newer replacement. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

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