Vista 32 bit or 64 bit?

londonman81

I've just taken delivery of a new laptop and it gives the option of either 32 bit or 64 bit Vista.

I am confused as to which one to install ( it has 3GB RAM, COre 2 Duo). I am also going to buy Windows 7 very soon to install over the Vista.

Any advice on which to go for?

Thanks!

savemoney

If it was me I go for 64bit version. I have 64bit windows 7 and Vista on home pc's, but mainly use windows 7

davb

With 3GB Ram you are not going to see much benefit fron Vista 64, unless you have some heavy duty applications (CADCAM, Graphics Editing, Gaming) that are written in pure 64 bit code. The main reason for going 64 bit is that it will use all the available RAM, rather than about 3GB for 32 bit. There is also a downside that driver availability for 64 bit Vista is not good.
If it was a straight choice between Vista 32/64, I would say 32 - but bring Windows 7 into it, and 64 bit is a reasonable option.

DatabaseError

x64.
'nuff said!

Millionaire

I would install Vista 64Bit, At least then you can test your 'must have' Software for incompatibility issues for 64bit (although I haven't had any, and I'm running Windows 7 64bit).

That way 'if' something really important won't run on 64bit you could get Win 7 32bit, otherwise 64bit all the way.

superscaper

davb wrote: »

There is also a downside that driver availability for 64 bit Vista is not good.

Why do you say that? I can't think of anything I've got that doesn't have 64 bit vista/7 drivers available for it.

DatabaseError

davb wrote: »

There is also a downside that driver availability for 64 bit Vista was not good when released in 2006

Fixed it for you

davb

superscaper wrote: »

Why do you say that? I can't think of anything I've got that doesn't have 64 bit vista/7 drivers available for it.

There won't be a problem with newer devices, it's older ones where there is likely to be an issue. I have seen lots of issues with XP64, Vista 64 is better (for drivers), and Windows 7 seems better still.

Microsoft seemed to think it was an issue here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946765

What to consider when you install a 64-bit version of Windows Vista
64-bit device drivers may not be available for one or more devices in the computer.

computershack

x64. If you upgrade the memory in the laptop in the future, you'll wish you had. As stated, device drivers are the only real reason you might not want to.