32bit or 64bit?
- Thread starter ovca
- Start date
Solution
Vexillarius
Reputable
- Aug 23, 2014
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A 64bit OS will only work with a 64bit CPU. Your CPU is 64bit.
If you can install a 64bit OS (and you can) you should, there are no downsides.
If you can install a 64bit OS (and you can) you should, there are no downsides.
skit75
Splendid
- Oct 7, 2008
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The only reason to stay in a 32-bit environment is if you have programs or applications that require it. Some older 32-bit programs were compiled with 16-bit installers and therefore won't work at all in x64.
And... as you mention, you would gain another ~400MB of RAM... right now you can only use about 3.6GB of your 4GB RAM.
And... as you mention, you would gain another ~400MB of RAM... right now you can only use about 3.6GB of your 4GB RAM.
dgingeri
Distinguished
- Dec 4, 2009
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There is also the fact that many malware programs and exploits used for the older 32-bit Windows don't work with 64-bit Windows. It safer to use 64-bit.
There is one downside, though. It takes up more memory and storage because of the larger code size. It's not much, barely 5% in memory and about 15% in storage, but it is an impact. (According to Microsoft, 32-bit Win7 requires 20GB of space while 64-bit requires 28GB) If you're short on storage or memory, 32-bit is an option.
There is one downside, though. It takes up more memory and storage because of the larger code size. It's not much, barely 5% in memory and about 15% in storage, but it is an impact. (According to Microsoft, 32-bit Win7 requires 20GB of space while 64-bit requires 28GB) If you're short on storage or memory, 32-bit is an option.
dgingeri
Distinguished
- Dec 4, 2009
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Full programs do run fine on 64-bit Windows, yes. However, many of the exploits used by malware aren't vulnerable in 64-bit Windows due to the memory space. With a 32-bit buffer overrun exploit, for example, they have to calculate the ending of the buffer, which would be larger in 64-bit Windows, in order to know what code to execute.
Many malware programs, like key loggers and web info stripping programs, also are geared specifically to go to certain areas of memory to get their info, while the 64-bit Windows uses different areas because the code is larger. The old "XP Anti-virus" malware just would not run on 64-bit XP or Vista. There was a World of Warcraft key logger that stole passwords that also would not run on a 64-bit OS, back in the Vista days.
Of course, these days the newest exploits are geared more toward 64-bit Windows, but they still haven't caught up to the old 32-bit days. There are still Windows XP malware programs out there that will infect 32-bit Windows 7, but don't work on 64-bit Windows 7.
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