The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    32 bit OS vs 64 bit OS

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by roweathers, Jun 21, 2007.

  1. roweathers

    roweathers Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    134
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    What are the pros and cons of installing 64 bit OS to run my non-64 bit applications?
     
    roweathers, Jun 21, 2007
    #1
  2. panteedropper

    panteedropper Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    97
    Messages:
    1,015
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    none of your 32 bit drivers will work. as for 32 bit apps, they will work under emulation mode but not as good as it would on a 32 bit OS
     
    panteedropper, Jun 21, 2007
    #2
  3. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

    Reputations:
    3,300
    Messages:
    7,115
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    206
    It's really not an emulation mode. It's a compatibility mode. They run at full speed, but if they depend on any 32bit system quirks, they may fail. 99% of applications will work properly, though. Google for compatibility issues with any of your must-have applications if they don't run in 64bit mode natively.
     
    Pitabred, Jun 21, 2007
    #3
  4. System64

    System64 Windows 7 x64

    Reputations:
    94
    Messages:
    1,318
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I'd go for 64bit.

    @ panteedropper, 32bit applications will run in full speed, the OS will handle it well.
     
    System64, Jun 22, 2007
    #4
  5. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    744
    Messages:
    3,083
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    For now, you are better off with 32bit Windows. It is not an upgrade worthwhile due to poor driver support and negligible performance gains. Many applications are still 32bit. However, eventually 64bit OSs will dominate, but that will take a couple of years at least. Until then I’d stick with 32bit.
     
    PhoenixFx, Jun 22, 2007
    #5
  6. System64

    System64 Windows 7 x64

    Reputations:
    94
    Messages:
    1,318
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    But if you're going to try 64bit, do it in a dual boot scenario. It can save you a lot of problems.
     
    System64, Jun 22, 2007
    #6