Should I get Win7 x86 or x64?

[(HUN)Rud3bwoy]

My current hardware specs, I wont change them:
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3 MOBO
Intel [email protected] CPU
4Gb DDR2 RAM @1066Mhz
Sapphire Radeon HD4870 Toxic GPU
500GB Hitachi hard drive

I think these specs allow an x64 OS, question is if the x64 version have more issues or less than the x86?

Is it "faster"(use less RAM)?

Does having an x64 OS mess up my softwares(do I have to use x64 version softwares too)?

Last but not least: if I have 4gigs of ram (2x2048 sticks),can the x86 version use all of it, or is it better to have an x64 OS for it?

One thing to add: I use my PC for gaming and work, but for work I dont use any programs that would need a beast. Softwares I use for work:
the complete windows office package, chemdraw, chem3d, origin, chemix.

Thanks for any comments!

[Jaymz]

Get Win7 retail, you get both versions with it.

I'd install 64-bit and use that tbh.

[Dunehunter]

Used to be that you'd have more issues with the 64b version, but I haven't had any issues with mine so far.

[PuffNStuff]

Isn't x86 the 32-bit counterpart to windows?

[(HUN)Rud3bwoy]

"Isn't x86 the 32-bit counterpart to windows?"
Yes, it is, but somehow they dont call it x32 but x86. Dont know why.


"Get Win7 retail, you get both versions with it."
I must choose from x86 and x64 because Im ordering through a service that grants free softwers for students of particular universities and they have a list to choose from. You can order 2 softwers, and my other software is microsoft office so I cant have both OS versions.

One last question: for 4GB of RAM is the x64 a better option? (Somewhere I heard that a x86 cant use more than 3GB of RAM, but Im not a computer whiz so I dunno).

[Dunehunter]

Yes, 4GB or more, 64b version.

[Wraith]

Yes, 4GB or more, 64b version.

Exactly, you are wasting at least 512mb of that 4GB by not having a 64bit OS. If you plan on expanding any time soon then go 64 bit all the way.. 32 bit apps shouldn't be effected. It will actually create a seperate Program Files (X86) directory and run those in 32 bit mode.

[SocketMan]

x64 for sure,plus you can add another 4GB down the road.

[SnipingCoward]

I advice going with Win7 64 bit. I am running it for months on my laptop and am having no problems. It is backwards compatible with 32bit applications but not driver and no 16bit applications (xD). If you are using some special old devices that only have 32bit drivers your might have problems getting them to work on x64.

3.25GB is max RAM that can be used by x86 Windows due to address space limitations.

[(HUN)Rud3bwoy]

Thanks for your feedback, Ill fill out the paperwork and in a few weeks have my Win7 x64
Thx again!

[tank_william]

Hello, I have a freesh install of battle field and patch 1.5 and pr .917 and bf2 runs fine but pr does not.

Win 7 64bit