64bit systems

I see where most new systems are 64bit and one is hard pressed to find a 32bit system. I've heard friends complain that there wasn't enough programs running 64bit software. Could the 32bit vs 64bit OS be compared to the old VHS vs BETA and we all know how that turned out.

 

Not a fair comparison, Beta tapes wouldn't physically fit into VHS players/recorders

Obviously 64bit will come out on top eventually (as did 32bit over 16 bit over 8bit) but unless you're adding very new hardware to a very old OS you won't have any issues for a few years to come.

32bit OS's are here for the foreseeable future, MS will support both and manufacturers will gradually increase support for 64bit as it becomes more popular.

As far as software goes, those 64bit OS's can run them, albeit executing 32bit instructions but they will also switch over to 64bit only in time.

Eventually 32bit will die but I wouldn't worry about it just yet.

A better comparison would be Bluray over DVD, Bluray is far superior but players can still playback DVDs

 

Thanks. I didn't know 32bit could run on a 64bit system.

 

If W7 did anything for the OS world, it solidified 64bit. Is this a reason to change .. ?
If you are going to update to a new machine, yes.
For the causal user, your not going to see a big difference.
For any level of power users it should / could make a difference today.
As we move forward year by year the advantages of programs specifically written for 64bit will allow the software to take advantages of the hardware. This is not just ram, but hyper-threading, dual and quad core cpu's will provide a much smoother, faster, multi-tasking environment. Keep in mind multi-tasking is not just running multiple apps, but look where "running processes" are going. A number of them could be thinned backed, but as the above software/hardware comes together it simple means ... we can.

 

64 Bit system

32 Bit systems will only support up to 4 Gigs of memory only.
64 Bit systems will hold what every the max memory is for the Motherboard.

If one runs a motherboard that will holds 16 gigs of memory, but installs a 32 bit windows OS it will only recognize up to only 4 gigs.
A 64 bit system will recognize all 16 gigs.
64 Bit is where the future is headed

 

- See Chart - Physical Memory Limits: Windows 7

Physical memory supported for Windows 7 operating systems varies between 32bit and 64bit, and which version you are running.
A third limitation is your mother board maximum memory support.