64bit vs 32bit

01-16-2010, 08:53 PM

What's your opinon on either 1 what's better and if I was to get a
computer today what should I go for 32 or 64

IceDragon · 01-16-2010, 08:57 PM

If you have 4+ GB of RAM then 64 of course. You can still use 64 bit with less than 4 but it doesn't help any and may actually give a slight slowdown when launching 32 bit programs due to having to launch the 32 bit wrapper. 32 bit is good if you have less than 3GB of RAM or less. If you do go 64 bit though make sure you have drivers available in the 64 bit variety for all your hardware. That is a bad mistake some people make when they switch.

TheMG · 01-16-2010, 08:58 PM

64bit. No sense in using a 32bit OS anymore, unless you have old devices that don't have 64bit drivers available.

With 32bit Windows you can only use about 3 to 3.5GB of RAM, but with 64bit you can have 4GB and above.

The only issue I've run into with 64bit Windows other than drivers is the lack of support for 16-bit applications (old MS-DOS programs), but for most people that's a non-issue.

That being said, software/driver support for Windows Vista and 7 64bit is pretty good now.

GoDMiN · 01-16-2010, 09:16 PM

If you were to get a computer today 64bit, however theres nothing wrong with 32bit really.

Scared · 01-16-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDMiN

theres nothing wrong with 32bit really.

It's holding back progress man!

I would have to say 64bit easily unless you have legacy applications that don't work on 64bit (legacy legacy) which you absolutely require (most applications would either have new versions that support 64bit or a patch, or are just obsolete).

freeloader105 · 01-16-2010, 11:03 PM

If you are getting a computer today, go for 64-bit, no doubt. All the old compatibility issues are just about extinct and you get to utilize more memory.

01-17-2010, 02:52 AM

Ok thanks very much guys for ur post I know now wat to get

Bad_Motha · 01-17-2010, 03:01 AM

Don't settle for anything other then Windows7 64-bit

ester25 · 01-17-2010, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRiCe

What's your opinon on either 1 what's better and if I was to get a
computer today what should I go for 32 or 64

A lot of new machines offered retail now come with Win 7 64-bit, so you know where the trend is going

Bad_Motha · 01-17-2010, 03:10 AM

It's not only that, but the new OS is around same price as XP PRO 32-bit, why would you want a nice new machine, only to go back to XP.

YahooElite · 01-17-2010, 06:18 AM

Although this has better answered already, with how current systems are today theres no reason Not to go with a 64bit OS, unless of course you play Extremely old games that have a high chance of not being supported.

A 64bit OS leaves room for adding ram Over the standard 3-3.5GBs that 32bit OS's are capable of reading and with that tends to yield greater performance depending on what your doing.

Either way, these days everything being released is 64bit OS compatible so as such theres no reason not to switch to a 64bit OS.

Spunkie · 01-17-2010, 06:41 AM

Theres no reason to not go with 64bit now.

GoDMiN · 01-17-2010, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDamo

It's holding back progress man!

Meh I'm not losing all my ♥♥♥♥ just for 500mb ram

01-17-2010, 11:39 AM

Aw what about vista. I heard it's bad for gaming

rotNdude · 01-17-2010, 11:43 AM

There is this thread. It is included in the sticky.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...d.php?t=850392

01-16-2010, 08:53 PM	#1
PRiCe Guest Posts: n/a	64bit vs 32bit What's your opinon on either 1 what's better and if I was to get a computer today what should I go for 32 or 64

01-16-2010, 08:58 PM	#3
TheMG Volunteer Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Reputation: 1712 Posts: 10,218	64bit. No sense in using a 32bit OS anymore, unless you have old devices that don't have 64bit drivers available. With 32bit Windows you can only use about 3 to 3.5GB of RAM, but with 64bit you can have 4GB and above. The only issue I've run into with 64bit Windows other than drivers is the lack of support for 16-bit applications (old MS-DOS programs), but for most people that's a non-issue. That being said, software/driver support for Windows Vista and 7 64bit is pretty good now. Last edited by TheMG: 01-16-2010 at 09:00 PM.

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01-16-2010, 08:57 PM	#2
IceDragon Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 370 Posts: 399	If you have 4+ GB of RAM then 64 of course. You can still use 64 bit with less than 4 but it doesn't help any and may actually give a slight slowdown when launching 32 bit programs due to having to launch the 32 bit wrapper. 32 bit is good if you have less than 3GB of RAM or less. If you do go 64 bit though make sure you have drivers available in the 64 bit variety for all your hardware. That is a bad mistake some people make when they switch.

01-16-2010, 09:16 PM	#4
GoDMiN Join Date: Mar 2008 Reputation: 131 Posts: 2,530	If you were to get a computer today 64bit, however theres nothing wrong with 32bit really.

01-16-2010, 11:03 PM	#6
freeloader105 Join Date: Jul 2007 Reputation: 2479 Posts: 1,477	If you are getting a computer today, go for 64-bit, no doubt. All the old compatibility issues are just about extinct and you get to utilize more memory.

01-17-2010, 02:52 AM	#7
PRiCe Guest Posts: n/a	Ok thanks very much guys for ur post I know now wat to get

01-17-2010, 03:01 AM	#8
Bad_Motha Join Date: Sep 2008 Reputation: 3103 Posts: 13,002	Don't settle for anything other then Windows7 64-bit

01-17-2010, 03:10 AM	#10
Bad_Motha Join Date: Sep 2008 Reputation: 3103 Posts: 13,002	It's not only that, but the new OS is around same price as XP PRO 32-bit, why would you want a nice new machine, only to go back to XP.

01-17-2010, 06:18 AM	#11
YahooElite Join Date: Nov 2008 Reputation: 782 Posts: 6,954	Although this has better answered already, with how current systems are today theres no reason Not to go with a 64bit OS, unless of course you play Extremely old games that have a high chance of not being supported. A 64bit OS leaves room for adding ram Over the standard 3-3.5GBs that 32bit OS's are capable of reading and with that tends to yield greater performance depending on what your doing. Either way, these days everything being released is 64bit OS compatible so as such theres no reason not to switch to a 64bit OS.

01-17-2010, 06:41 AM	#12
Spunkie Join Date: Sep 2009 Reputation: 9 Posts: 288	Theres no reason to not go with 64bit now.

01-17-2010, 11:39 AM	#14
PRiCe Guest Posts: n/a	Aw what about vista. I heard it's bad for gaming

01-17-2010, 11:43 AM	#15
rotNdude Volunteer Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Reputation: 9180 Posts: 45,471	There is this thread. It is included in the sticky. http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...d.php?t=850392