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05-14-2010, 02:33 AM
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#1 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 315
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32 bit vs. 64 bit
What is the difference between a windows 32-bit and a windows 64-bit?
I don't really care what OS you explain it for, but I am planning on getting a W7 just so you know. All I know is that you can stuff as much ram in a 64-bit as you are able to, while in the 32-bit you are restricted to 3GB. And I've also heard that windows is planning on making a 128-bit for W8? What would that do? |
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05-14-2010, 09:17 AM
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#2 |
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Techphile.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,962
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64 bit in a nutshell allows the CPU to accomplish more work per CPU cycle. 128 bit would do the same although I am not aware of any near future plans for 128 bit computing.
With Windows 7 there is no reason that I know of for not purchasing the 64 bit version, partially as you say because it can utilize more RAM.
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05-14-2010, 11:22 AM
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#3 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 315
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Thank you
 Now I'm completely sure I want 64-bit instead of 32
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05-15-2010, 04:58 PM
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#4 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,652
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The number of bits is just the length of the memory registers and addresses. You probably wont notice any performance difference unless you are running a memory intensive applications that are 64bit themselves. You will be able to use more RAM. I doubt the next iteration of Windows will be 128bit, there isn't a need.
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07-16-2010, 07:44 AM
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#5 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 60
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Does win7 64 bit have the drawbacks that xp64 did? Like nonexistent driver support?
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07-16-2010, 08:09 AM
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#6 |
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Ride 'em Cowboy
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 9,109
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Yes and No. XP64 sucked when it comes to drivers. In theroy, win7 64 bit is going on newer machines aka newer hardware where the makers have a vested interest in making 64 bit drivers.
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07-16-2010, 08:26 AM
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#7 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 60
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Thanks, still kind of wary of going to 64 bit...
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07-16-2010, 08:42 AM
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#8 |
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Ride 'em Cowboy
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 9,109
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If you're running a 7 year old socket A mobo - yes - be worried.
Or - look for drivers before making the switch 
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07-16-2010, 09:27 AM
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#9 | |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 785
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Quote:
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07-16-2010, 09:50 AM
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#10 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: May 2000
Location: PA USA
Posts: 1,040
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I only had one program that didn't work on 64 bit. That was a 15 year old addressbook program. I updated to a new one for $30 and couldn't be happier.
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07-16-2010, 10:15 AM
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#11 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 60
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My mobo is am2 upgradeable to am2+ so it should be fine with windows 7 64 bit.
Theoretically 32 bit programs should work in 64 bit windows, both AMD and Intel have it built into the processors - and it's both the same technology from AMD |
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07-16-2010, 05:35 PM
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#12 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 336
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That all sounds about right. I'm running an old socket 939 (now 5 years old) and I haven't had any trouble with 64 bit systems.
The odd thing about 64 bit systems is that when you install 32 bit program it puts it in a separate folder called program files (x86). Not sure why Windows does this but it seems to workout so I'm not complaining.
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07-16-2010, 07:39 PM
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#13 | |
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Techphile.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,962
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Quote:
Under Win7 64 and Vista 64, the 32 bit programs install automatically in the Program Files (x86) folder and the 64 bit programs are in the regular Program Files folder. If you are ever curious which is which then look in those two folders. My computer has quite a few more 32 bit applications than 64 bit applications Last edited by David M; 07-16-2010 at 08:13 PM. |
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07-16-2010, 09:27 PM
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#14 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ada, Michigan USA
Posts: 270
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I found only one program that would not run in Windows 7 64 bit and that was Adobe Indesign CS2.
All my other Adobe software worked fine. I had to upgrade to the latest version of Indesign to get it to work. The only other problem that I ran into was finding drivers for my Epson scanner. There just aren't any, I had to buy a 3rd party software package to use it. Mike |
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