Upgrade question: If your laptop maxes out at 4GB of memory...

...is there any reason to install the 64-bit version of Win 7?

will I see any extra ram or anything? are there any advantages for such a computer? all of my other machines are already running Win 7 (64-bit), and this is the only computer hardware limited to 4GB.

insight is appreciated.

 

yes, install 64 bit, because if you install 32 bit, you wont be able to take advantage of that 4th GB of RAM

 

I was under the impression that 32-bit OS's can see and address 4GB? just not more than 4GB? no?

 

In theory, 32bit OS can see 4GB of RAM in most case. However in reality, 32bit OS only can utilize about 3GB(home premium), 3.2GB(Professional/Business) and 3.5GB(Ultimate) of RAM.
So, if you have more than 3GB of RAM(basically, 4GB or above), it is recommended to use 64bit OS.
I noticed graphic performance improved with 64bit on a few machines I tried.
64bit OS can run almost all 32bit software/driver but 16bit(ancient) software/driver will not work on 64bit OS.
64bit OS also can read and fully utilize more than 4GB(3GB) of RAM.

I moved to 64bit OS a few months ago. Now, I don't like 32bit OSes anymore.

 

also any graphics memory is included into that 4gb..

 

understood. 64-bit it is. thanks for the help, guys!

 

That's not really accurate. It doesn't matter which version of Windows you use, they all still take system resources out of the 4GB total address pool. Home Premium, Pro/Business and Ultimate have NO differences in that regard. You might make the argument with PAE and such, but that's something completely different.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_vista

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778(VS.85).aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_7

 

I second this. All the versions use the same kernel, in essence.

 

x64 is overrated, its not good.

 

...If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually believe it...

 

Ok , your loss. Stay with you P4 and 3GB of RAM

 

I know MS claims the RAM kernel stuff to be the same for 32bit OSes. But I saw something or experienced something like this.
You all need to check on the Dxdiag.
Experiment Procedure:
Install Home Premium 32bit on a 4GB RAM machines.
Check Dxdiag, you can see about 3GB of RAM there.
While check on My Computer, it is 4GB RAM.
Then, install Business 32bit on a 4GB RAM machines.
Check DxDiag, you can see about 3.2GB of RAM there.
While check on My Computer, it is 4GB RAM.
Similar, to Ultimate 32bit. 4GB on My Computer and 3.5GB on Dxdiag.

But, I wonder why they wrote like that. But basically 32bit OSes only can fully utilize 3GB of RAM. Yet, you can see 4GB of RAM on 32bit OSes.

As for 64bit OSes, they are a lot better!!! 64bit is not overrated. It is really awesome!

 

Yup. IIRC there is the PAE, which is used to address things from the 3.2GB cutoff to the end of the 4GB that a 32-bit OS can read. Even though it may say you have 4GB physically implanted to the motherboard, it needs that last 3/4GB or so to address peripherals such as the GPU. Now what gets even wilder is if you have a Large GPU (say 1GB of GDDR-X RAM or more, or 2 GPUs that add up to 1GB or more (2 x 512MB will do here), then it has to read more than the PAE will allow, so the PAE will expand itself and then you get even less actual RAM to work with. I saw a XP-32 rig with dual GTX 285s and it only had 2GB that it could read out of 4GB total because of the fact the GTX285s together were more than the PAE was designed to have, spacewise. With Vista 64, this no longer was a problem. XP-64 though sucks, that I will say... however Vista 64 and 7-64 should be much more robust and I agree... it's not overrated to have 64-bit OS's on a computer, I have 8GB RAM in my sager, and I can say that 64-bit Vista works like a clock in it... I wouldn't go back to 32-bit for day to day use even if you paid me to.

 

WAOOOO. Finally, have people agreed with me. LOL.
Your explanation was very "high-end". My English level(not from US/UK/EU) can't understand all of it.
+REP!

 

Heh. What do you do son?
Type non-graphical documents and check these forums?

x64 is amazing...I have no reason to go back to a 32bit OS again.

 

The advantages of 64-bit are very clear. I believe he is just a troll, or doesn't know what it is and confusing things. I vote for a troll, as no constructive arguments was mentioned from his part... let alone any argumentation what so ever.

 

At this point in time, if you have 4GB or more and a recent processor there is no intelligent reason to use a 32-bit OS.

x64 handles memory better, is more stable, and in general provides a better overall experience.

The only exception would be if you need t run some REALLY old programs for work. (and frankly, I'd just load up a virtual machine)

 

DXDiag is not a good tool to really tell you what's going on. Please read this:

Same thing with system RAM. There is NO DIFFERENCE between the kernels of the different Windows versions. There may be differences between what programs are loaded at boot time and what memory dxdiag will access and show free, but that has nothing to do with what Windows actually has in the system. If you perform a md5sum on ntoskrnl.exe on each of those versions of Windows, you will find the exact same result. That means that the kernels are the same, and they have the exact same limitations and capabilities. Your results are just showing the difference between what different versions of Windows pre-load into memory.

 

Oooooo. I see. Thanks for the informations.

 

There was an update some time ago, (a few months back I think) that fixes the amount of shown memory to 4GB in 32bit machines too.

As far as I know, the only useful purpose for that is less customers now calling the computer support lines "I bought a computer with 4GB and it shows I have only 3,25GB! I've been cheated!" Instead now people are happy since it says they have 4GB installed

 

Agreed. Probably, showing 4GB all together instead of the actual ram amount which can be utilize by 32bit OSes will decrease the rate of "Why I can't see totally 4GB of RAM" issues.
This is to "cheat" those newbies since the market is full with newbies. I mean those who didn't go in much into a Computer.

 

I've had my laptop for over 2 years, I've had XP, Vista Home, Vista Ultimate, and various Linux OS's on it, and never thought about 64 bit because I'd read there was a lot of issues with it, but that was ages ago. 2 months ago I installed Windows 7 x86, and while doing some reading on it took some interest in what was now being said about x64, most of which was good, so took the plunge, downloaded Windows 7 x64 (7600 RTM), and can safely say I won't be looking back.

If your system can run it, get it installed as you won't be disappointed.