Is 64 bit worth the extra cost?

timberflake

I'm going to be in the market for a new PC in a couple of months and am looking to configure on to my custom spec.

Now, I already have Windows 7 Professional 32 bit as I upgraded my laptop about a year ago. My question is, is the £79 price tag of W7 Professional 64 bit worth it?? I'm looking to build an Intel i3 with 4gb ram. Basically, its going to be comparible in spec to the basic iMac, but around £250-£300 cheaper depending on whether I go for W7 64 bit.

jayme1

32bit windows can only ever use 3.5GB of RAM, so if you stuck with 32bit you would never be able to upgrade your RAM in future (you can but it would be pointless)

but with 64bit win7 pro the maximum RAM allowed with the OS is 192GB

personally I would go 64bit it is well supported and everything that is win7 certified has to work with it, and is generally more futureproof

Hammyman

timberflake wrote: »

I'm going to be in the market for a new PC in a couple of months and am looking to configure on to my custom spec.

Now, I already have Windows 7 Professional 32 bit as I upgraded my laptop about a year ago. My question is, is the £79 price tag of W7 Professional 64 bit worth it?? I'm looking to build an Intel i3 with 4gb ram. Basically, its going to be comparible in spec to the basic iMac, but around £250-£300 cheaper depending on whether I go for W7 64 bit.

You already have a licence to use Windows 7 Pro 64 bit when you get a 32bit one. You merely need to get hold of a 64 bit installation disk. When I bought Win7 Home Pro, it came with both the 32bit and 64bit installation disks in the same box. There is no additional charge.

And if you've got 4GB of RAM or are planning on it, you definitely want 64bit in order to be able to use the RAM.

JasX

There is no difference in price, all windows licenses for 32-bit are equally valid for the 64-bit equivlent version (ie you already have it.... unless you were particularly short sighted and got an OEM windows license in which case you need to shell out £79 for a new license whichever version you want on the new machine)

Hopefully they'll stop selling anything configured in the old 32-bit system pretty soon and let it die off quickly from the home user market

debitcardmayhem

jayme1 wrote: »

32bit windows can only ever use 3.5GB of RAM, so if you stuck with 32bit you would never be able to upgrade your RAM in future (you can but it would be pointless, Unless you use Unix/Linux)

but with 64bit win7 pro the maximum RAM allowed with the OS is 192GB

personally I would go 64bit it is well supported and everything that is win7 certified has to work with it, and is generally more futureproof

Sod it then buy a £2000 motherboard and £2000 worth of Ram and go for the Max .
Sadly there is not one available in the retail space, however

Now, I already have Windows 7 Professional 32 bit as I upgraded my laptop about a year ago. My question is, is the £79 price tag of W7 Professional 64 bit worth it?? I'm looking to build an Intel i3 with 4gb ram. Basically, its going to be comparible in spec to the basic iMac, but around £250-£300 cheaper depending on whether I go for W7 64 bit.

You cannot use the upgrade version from your old pc (unless it is an Upgrade from a retail disk rather than OEM. If you are "building" then buy the full retail pack of W7 (and then you get 32/64 in one box)

JasX

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

You cannot use the upgrade version from your old pc (unless it is an Upgrade from a retail disk rather than OEM. If you are "building" then buy the full retail pack of W7 (and then you get 32/64 in one box)

To be clear 'upgrade RETAIL' version will be fine for you to go 32 or 64 bit on your new machine

also a 'full RETAIL' version is actually identical to the above and fine too

An 'upgrade OEM' disk/license is useless and won't let you install either 32 or 64 bit on a different machine.

same goes for a 'full OEM' disk/license.

another version to watch out for is 'WAU' or 'Windows Anytime Upgrade' licenses these are also pretty useless one time only things that become worthless after first use.

if you have a RETAIL version you could also sell it on ebay when you're finished with it as they are infinitely transferrable.... (even xp RETAIL disks still go for a good £30-40), alternatively OEM versions leave you stuck paying microsoft £70odd every time you change PC or upgrade too much and are worth staying well away from