QOTD: Are You Going 32 or 64-bit for Win 7?

Currently running the 64-bit version of Windows 7 RC. I've moved to 64-bit Windows since Vista and never looked back. It's nice to be able to use all of my RAM. However, it's not all good in the 64-bit world...

The biggest pain I've seen with 64-bit Windows is that Microsoft for some reason decided to enforce signed drivers, otherwise they will not run. The problem with this is that the companies who provide the drivers have to pay Microsoft in order to get the drivers signed, so in the end the users tend to suffer because some drivers are only available unsigned. If you want those to work, you either need to hit F8 and disable enforcement of signed drivers every time you boot up, or resort to third party software that does this automatically, or run Windows in Test Mode. This has personally burned me twice on different occasions, and I'm sure those won't be the last.

Apart from that madness, I've had no problems on 64-bit Windows. Even had the original C&C Red Alert running flawlessly on here.

i think that most of the people who will use windows 7 already have at least 4 GB of ram, so probably (and logically) most of them will use 64bit OS. I use 64bit windows since vista came out, and i really like win 7.

6GB DDR3 triple-channel packs are the norm for i7 and 4GB DDR3 dual-channel packs are getting cheaper all the time so 8GB RAM is easily viable - in fact it already is for DDR2. As a result I think it's going to become increasingly rare to see a 32-bit OS on the desktop over the next year or so.

I only see 32-bit OS sticking around for mobile computing where 4GB chips are expensive and units only have 2 DIMM slots - sheer cost limits systems to 4GB, but who knows that well could change very soon with mobile i7 on its way - does the mobile i7 use triple-channel?

64 bit for me. As other have already said, most gaming systems you get now will exceed the RAM limits of 32 bit. That said, it seems Microsoft will be delivering both 32 and 64 to everyone that orders 7, so it's easy to change one's mind!

Well 64 bit is here and if you doing anything other than basic word processing web browsing more ram helps. It doesn't always make loading and processing faster it makes working on the computer a bit more fluid and since RAM is cheap you properly going to have 4GB in there anyway

64 bit as well, the only thing I need is a new scanner as my old mustek hasnt had any new drivers since windows 2000.

i have installed w7 64bits, the biigest problem drivers, like i am using HUAWEI wirles modem to connect to the net, it really makes trouble, the net is coonected works for sometime and then the connection dies, but with XP it works good
so what is the sultion, i like w7 but i am forced to go back to XP

I have just pre-ordered. Will install 64 bit.

64-bit since XP64, and yeah that was problematic (pretty much no USB drivers for anything at the start!!) and strangley slow with 8Gb of ram. So onto Vista 64bit and just pre orderd Win 7, evn my mini itx system has 4Gb of RAM!

I'm running the 64-bit W7 RC on my 4G ram notebook now. I went 64-bit just to see if the programs I rely on work out of a 32-bit environment. I'll prob go back to vista 32-bit once the RC expires but when I build my desktop it'll be getting 64-bit W7.
I know this thread is specifically about W7 but I'm interested in whether people use 32 or 64 bit linux. I'm going to see if there's a thread in the forums now.

I've been using 64bit since Vista came out. Early niggles with old hardware have long been resolved and since I now have 6GB of RAM with an i7 machine there is little choice but 64 bit. Even with 4GB of RAM it makes sense to use the 64bit version.

I don't see it mainstreaming for a while however, most non tech savy users are buying machines with less RAM.

32-bit is for peasants.

64bit since Vista. Even when I only had 2GB of RAM.

Never looked back.

who says im going for win7?

If you're building/getting a new Windows machine from next year and purchasing a new OS with it you probably won't have a choice.

I was using Vista x64 and now have Win7 x64.

Due to the extortionate price of the (non) upgrade for ultimate edition in the EU. I will be downgrading back to Vista x64.

I will move on to Win7 if/when I get a subsidised version with a new PC.

Price has been found for 80 quid a multiple online retailers for pre-orders if you order it now. I think it's reasonable considering their normal extortionate prices.

I'm upgrading my system and have preordered Win7 Pro-E for it at the £89 price. At the mo I'm using 32-bit RC1, but once upgraded in the next couple of weeks I will switch to the 64bit RC1, then the 64bit final in Oct.

Those moaning and wanting to keep using 32bit need to move with the times as they are holding everything back! Win7 should have only come in 64bit.

Will it run faster than the old faithful win XP? Thats the question. So far Vista didnt convince me!
performance, performance, performance!

zuzullo - The release candidate is doing better for me than my bloated XP SP3 install.

Thats very true, the only problem is that ive seen places sell systems with 4GB+ RAM and 1GB+ graphics cards and they still install 32bit windows.

Its definitely not a viable option for Vista users in my opinion but those on XP should find it hard not to be tempted. I was running XP up until i saw the difference with W7 on my system and will be going 64 bit as soon as my pre ordered disc gets here.

Mactronix

Thats true but unlike Vista there really is no reason to want to down grade W7

"Thats very true, the only problem is that ive seen places sell systems with 4GB+ RAM and 1GB+ graphics cards and they still install 32bit windows."

Hopefully as both 32 and 64 bit came on the same disc system builders will start using a bit of savy as far as this is concerned, unless MS are doing system builders a better deal on 32 bit still of course.

Mactronix

The issue is that I have the *ultimate* edition of Vista, and there is no option to pre-order this nor will there an upgrade due to their tiff with the EU.

I should probably look at what I use form the Ultimate edition and see if I could 'downgrade' to one of the lesser versions.

I was installing vista 64 on my workstation but had to revert to 32bit since I had program and drivers that did not work with x64.

No big loss it was since I actually found the x64 slower and all my apps ended up in a x86 folder (think it was) anyway.

Pity that it didn't work any better since I bought the ultimate x64 and have 4GB of ram.

Im going with 64Bit due to the amount of RAm plus with the benefits that extra memory can give in future games and applications like video and 3d rendering then it does not make any sense to use 32bit.

Personally at £50 pre order i can get a second hard drive leave my currant install intact and install W7 64 on the second drive, just need to pick a drive at boot, F11 on my Bios. That way i don't loose anything, still have a 32bit OS handy just in case and also have a virtually new PC

Mactronix

Fingers-crossed W7 hits my Action Pack subscription before I leave the company ;-)

I'd definantly go with 64 bit.
I think they should phase out 32 bit OS because applications and games are demanding more and more ram every year. Only makes sense to me.

I am probably going to stick with 32 bit for compatibility reasons. Plus from experience and having seen all the benchmarks online going up from 2gb of memory makes little difference other than bragging rights unless you are planning on running multiple games at once???

Modern games (ok, sup com) can use up to 2GB's on their own.

Also vista makes better use of memory than xp.