# Should I go for 32 or 64 bit Windows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 11, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048 "2009-08-11T11:49:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/21 "2009-08-11T18:57:34Z")
\*Waiting for the break of day Searching for a game to play Out of mem’ry, program dies Giving up I close my eyes Will it crash or run some more? 32 or 64? Figure pi to the millionth place Will the CPU keep pace? Render graphics in real time But three gig’s an uphill climb Should I go and buy some more? 32 or 64? Thinking that I need six gig To get the most bang from my rig But will my hardware drivers work? Will my friends think I’m a jerk? 32 or 64? 32 or 64?\* Apologies to Robert Lamm ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/22 "2009-08-11T19:02:06Z")
Keep in mind I don’t believe that ost photo editing software have 64 bit versions, not that they won’t work with the OS, just that you won’t notice any improvement from being 100% 64 bit on OS and Application. I have found in my experience that with the full usage of RAM my photo editing with Photoshop elements is a better experience (less delays, more open windows, etc). Basically it comes down to what you feel the urge to use. Keep in mind that: In most cases you are not buying a new version of Windows it whould come with the 64bit disc when you buy the 32 bit Do you already have the hardware capable of running it? Are your applications compatible? If your hardware and software are capable, you get to use all your RAM and you already own the SW, who not upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/23 "2009-08-11T19:44:38Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Yes. I’d hold off Windows 7 for 3-6 months anyway so all the problems come to light. Your RC license is good until next year anyway. > > Again, I’ve yet to find any 32 bit software that doesn’t work on 64 bit Vista. The Cisco VPN software I use for work didn’t run on 64 bit Vista, which is the subject of about half the messages in our internal VPN alias. I think they may finally have a 64 bit version out now. I haven’t had any compatibility problems at all with the 32 bit version, but I might have gotten the 64 bit one if it wasn’t for the VPN issue. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/24 "2009-08-11T20:00:22Z")
To be fair, a VPN application includes a virtual driver for a virtual VPN interface. So it falls in both category of driver and software. Anything real or virtual that adds devices in hardware manager will need to be native 64 bit. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/25 "2009-08-11T20:09:58Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Remember the question is if one should upgrade to 64-bit Win7. If it comes to that, for an existing computer already running XP or Vista, I don’t think it’s worth upgrading to Win7 of any flavor. On the other hand, if you’re going to upgrade to Win7 anyway (which the OP states), it seems there’s little reason not to choose the 64-bit version. Assuming you have relatively new hardware (including all peripherals) for which 64-bit device drivers are available. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/26 "2009-08-12T01:20:43Z")
> [@HorseloverFat](#): > > Working with less than 4gigs of ram is extremely limiting for even todays applications when working with large data sets, manipulating large files, or gaming. For tomorrows applications is a ridiculous limit. Considering everything in your “uncool” PC right now was seen with the same skepticism, perhaps you should accept this as the normal pace of PC engineering. Afterall, would you like to have a machine without USB2 or pci? Or with much slower ram? Or with a 256 color video card? I will upgrade to a 64-bit O/S when the standard applications I normally use are already available as stable 64-bit apps. I don’t see that occurring until there is a major government and business investment in 64-bit O/Ss and apps, probably three to five years away, at minimum. My uncool XP laptops and desktops work quite well. I even downgraded the laptops from Vista. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/27 "2009-08-12T04:40:01Z")
We’ve gotten stymied with our Palm Pilot PDAs (Tungsten E and E2), which don’t sync to our new 64-bit machine via USB. So there are definitely conflicts. Palm will not be delivering a USB sync for our machines either. We wound up having to buy a cheap IR dongle to sync (which works, but is s…l…o…w…). ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/28 "2009-08-12T08:00:36Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > \*Waiting for the break of day > Searching for a game to play > Out of mem’ry, program dies > Giving up I close my eyes > Will it crash or run some more? > 32 or 64? > > Figure pi to the millionth place > Will the CPU keep pace? > Render graphics in real time > But three gig’s an uphill climb > Should I go and buy some more? > 32 or 64? > > Thinking that I need six gig > To get the most bang from my rig > But will my hardware drivers work? > Will my friends think I’m a jerk? > 32 or 64? > 32 or 64?\* > > Apologies to Robert Lamm Brilliant! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/29 "2009-08-12T10:19:20Z")
I’m running Vista 64-bit right now and I haven’t had any driver issues. I did have an issue where a game (Atari’s Act of War) actually refused to run because I had too much memory. But I just put it in compatibility mode for WinXP and it ran fine. Don’t be afraid of 64-bit. It really is the wave of the future and most software developers are aware of this by now. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/30 "2009-08-12T14:44:32Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Yes. I’d hold off Windows 7 for 3-6 months anyway so all the problems come to light. Your RC license is good until next year anyway. The Golden Rule when dealing with Microsoft: Never install a new release until the first service pack is out. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/31 "2009-08-12T14:48:01Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Yes. I’d hold off Windows 7 for 3-6 months anyway so all the problems come to light. Your RC license is good until next year anyway. > > Again, I’ve yet to find any 32 bit software that doesn’t work on 64 bit Vista. I’ve been running Windows 7 since January, and I haven’t had a single problem. I’m confident that it’s as good as an OS can be. ---
**Author:** ![SunSandSuffering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SunSandSuffering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunSandSuffering)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/32 "2009-08-12T15:17:12Z")
You don’t have to pay extra for 64 bit so why not try it? I run XP 64 bit and apart from device drivers you wouldn’t know it’s not “normal”. I have no problems running any apps, games, anti virus etc. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/33 "2009-08-12T16:14:10Z")
> [@SunSandSuffering](#): > > You don’t have to pay extra for 64 bit so why not try it? I run XP 64 bit and apart from device drivers you wouldn’t know it’s not “normal”. I have no problems running any apps, games, anti virus etc. As someone else has said, according to [Microsoft](http://emea.microsoftstore.com/UK/Microsoft/Windows-7-Home-Premium-E), both versions are supplied, so yes, I’ll give the 64 bit version a go, and if I don’t like it, I can revert to the 32 bit one. It is this ‘apart from device drivers’ bit that worries me though. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![SunSandSuffering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SunSandSuffering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunSandSuffering)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/34 "2009-08-12T22:10:50Z")
You load Windows 64 bit, then load the device drivers: chipset, display adapter, sound card, network card, printer, etc then it works as normal. Before you format / reload your PC take a look through the Device Manager and note down any 3rd party device - then check the website for the manufacturer of that device and download the 64 bit driver ahead of the reload. Honestly it’s easy, the only problem I’ve had was a Trust graphics tablet where they have 64 bit Vista drivers but not 64 bit XP ones. I have 8 GB RAM just because I can and it’s great! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048/35 "2009-08-12T23:14:13Z")
> [@SunSandSuffering](#): > > Honestly it’s easy, the only problem I’ve had was a Trust graphics tablet where they have 64 bit Vista drivers but not 64 bit XP ones. I have 8 GB RAM just because I can and it’s great! 64 bit Vista drivers should work just fine with Windows 7. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-for-32-or-64-bit-windows/506048.md?page=1)