Should I run the 64 or 32 bit OS?

Hi guys,

Just looking for a bit of advice, would I be better off using the 32 or 64-bit OS? I have an Intel Core 2 Quad CPU @ 2.4Ghz, and 3GB of ram.

Thanks!

jam00116 said:

Hi guys,

Just looking for a bit of advice, would I be better off using the 32 or 64-bit OS? I have an Intel Core 2 Quad CPU @ 2.4Ghz, and 3GB of ram.

Thanks!

I've put the 64-bit versions of Win7, WinVista, Win8/8.1 on computers that can run them then Upgraded to the 64-bit Win10, haven't had any major problems [had but never installed the 64-bit WinXP Pro]. The issue between the two boils down to have the correct drivers, some Notebooks will have issues with 64-bit. As always, there may be problems with older programs but 64-bit Windows can run a lot of 32-bit programs. There are some computers that can't run 64-bit due to BIOS limitations but the 32-bit version is okay, kind of hit-or-miss on that and I ran into it with a Dell Dimension E521 Desktop, still a good computer.

Welcome to the forum.

With less than 4 GB RAM the 32 bit version would usually be preferred. 64 bit Windows has some significant advantages but would be constrained by a lack of RAM. 64 bit systems have higher RAM requirements than 32 bit versions.

I agree as well. There is little benefit of installing 64-bit with less than 4GB RAM. On the contrary I prefer installing 32-bit for this extra compatibility with legacy hardware (even XP drivers can work sometimes) and software.

I'm running x64 10 on a Core 2 Duo (with maxed out 3GB ram) only because apple doesn't supply 32 bit drivers...

Shame to Apple!

There is nothing wrong to install 64-bit Windows in systems with less than 4GB RAM, but there is no real performance benefit, while you introduce more incompatibility problems (need for 64-bit drivers that are harder to find, not all applications can run in 64-bit etc). That's why I prefer installing always the 32-bit version, even if the system has 4GB RAM. I install the 64-bit version for greater than 4GB only.

As said before, in rare cases and for very old hardware you can use the Windows XP drivers in 32-bit while with 64-bit your device is simply useless. For example, any old computer having a Realtek AC'97 audio card can only install a specific version of the Windows XP driver in Windows 10 32-bit, since both the official Realtek Vista driver and the last official Realtek Windows XP drive give a BSOD, as described in this thread. If you install Windows 10 64-bit in the same computer, you are out of luck! You need to install a discrete sound card or use the computer without sound!

When dealing with old computers 32-bit is almost one-way road!

spapakons said:

Shame to Apple!

Well I did buy it 2006 so I'm quite happy it works at all :)

Have you realized that newer QuickTime versions do not install in Windows 8 and 10? They install only in Windows 7. This is Apple's way to say they don't want to support Windows 10. They prefer anyone using a Mac (yes, keep dreaming). If you want to install latest QuickTime in Windows 8 & 10, read about this workaround.

Have you realized that newer QuickTime versions do not install in Windows 8 and 10?

I installed quick time this afternoon on Windows 10 Pro. Just used the download from Apple UK v7.78


Dave