Windows 7: 32 or 64 bit? UPDATE: Install done! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Kipper is King · 10-18-2009, 10:26 AM

OK, so thanks to the House Party promotion, I have both a 32 bit copy of Windows 7 and a 64 bit one (only one install key). My computer does have 3 GB of RAM and a 64 bit AMD processor. Sounds like the makings of a real party, eh?

My dad (the computer boss

) isn't sold on the idea of the 64 bit version. He argues there isn't enough software to take advantage of it yet (I tell him the keyword is yet!) and he is concerned about driver support being a problem for that. Is that unfounded?

Does anyone have any opinions of that? I know in a couple years, we will probably be buying a new computer anyways, but is it worth it making the jump to 64 bit now? Does 32 bit software generally run fine on the 64 bit version of windows 7?

ken0042 · 10-18-2009, 10:30 AM

I haven't run into any issues with software, but so far all I really have used is Office, Acrobat, IE, etc.

Toshiba supplied us with drivers 2 weeks ago for our laptops we buy from them, so I think the driver issue won't be like Vista. My guess is also that Microsoft made sure that the major manufacturers all promised to have drivers ready for release date.

Very soon I can see 3GB as being what we look upon 512MB now.

Shazam · 10-18-2009, 10:32 AM

Yes, absolutely go 64 bit.

Nehkara · 10-18-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shazam

Yes, absolutely go 64 bit.

Agreed on this. No reason to pigeon-hole yourself with 32 bit. 32 bit operating systems can also handle less RAM I believe.

GoinAllTheWay · 10-18-2009, 10:37 AM

I have the 64 bit, no worries getting drivers. May have been tough when it first came out but not anymore.

64 bit all the way.

Dirty Mr. Clean · 10-18-2009, 10:44 AM

If you have more then 4 GB of RAM its worth while. Without more RAM you will see no increase of power IMO.

Shazam · 10-18-2009, 10:45 AM

Considering the price of RAM, it's a no brainer.

Also, if you upgrade your video card and it has more RAM than the one you have now, this will lower your available system RAM, since the OS needs to address the VC RAM.

photon · 10-18-2009, 11:05 AM

Drivers for 64 bit versions used to be an issue a few years ago, but as long as you don't have some super old peripheral that isn't supported any more that is indispensable, I'd go with the 64 bit version.

FanIn80 · 10-18-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Drivers for 64 bit versions used to be an issue a few years ago, but as long as you don't have some super old peripheral that isn't supported any more that is indispensable, I'd go with the 64 bit version.

Yeah, three years of Vista has pretty much all but eliminated the concern with 64bit drivers. In other words, if you have something that doesn't at least have 64bit Vista drivers, then it was already too old to worry about three years ago.

TheU · 10-18-2009, 11:12 AM

I read somewhere that you get both versions this time on the same disc, and you dont have to choose anymore. Did they change this last minute to milk more money?

FanIn80 · 10-18-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheU

I read somewhere that you get both versions this time on the same disc, and you dont have to choose anymore. Did they change this last minute to milk more money?

No, but you still have to choose which version to install (the point of this thread).

TheU · 10-18-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

No, but you still have to choose which version to install (the point of this thread).

Just makin sure people are aware, as this is a new thing

Kipper is King · 10-18-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheU

I read somewhere that you get both versions this time on the same disc, and you dont have to choose anymore. Did they change this last minute to milk more money?

Don't think so. The House Party pack just has two separate discs. But, that's because I'm special and Microsoft loves me!

ken0042 · 10-18-2009, 12:45 PM

We got our discs from Microsoft a while ago, and there were seperate discs for 32 and 64 bit.

Azure · 10-18-2009, 12:51 PM

My disks from Microsoft were separate too.

sclitheroe · 10-18-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

We got our discs from Microsoft a while ago, and there were seperate discs for 32 and 64 bit.

Yeah, I doubt you can fit both on a single-layer DVD. And Microsoft, unlike Apple (who ships OS X on DVD DL's) can't guarantee everyone has a dual-layer compatible drive.

Raekwon · 10-18-2009, 02:04 PM

I received my "party pack" also last week and have been running 64bit. I had no problems at all with driver support. I had problems during beta with creative drivers but they seem to be all fixed. I doubt you will have any trouble with it.

Hack&Lube · 10-18-2009, 03:07 PM

How do you get in on the house party promotion? I thought it was only a joke going by how bad the videos are!

Kipper is King · 10-18-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

How do you get in on the house party promotion? I thought it was only a joke going by how bad the videos are!

I read tech blogs such as Engadget and Gizmodo every day, so I heard about it as soon as the promotion was announced, and applied at houseparty.com.

3 Justin 3 · 10-18-2009, 04:45 PM

Minor off topic question: What is Windows 7? Totally new OS that I am just unaware of, or something like a service pack for Vista?