32 bit vs 64 bit

[BURNY26]

I have heard that 32 bit systems are as good as 64 bit systems and that their only differnce lies within the RAM area . With the 32 bit going haywire on 8Gb RAM.

I was wondering if there might be any more differences and how the systems compare when playing TW ?

[Top-Tier-Tech]

A 32 bit OS can only use approx. 3.5GB of RAM, anything more than that remains unused.

[BURNY26]

and how does this affect TW gaming ?

[Top-Tier-Tech]

and how does this affect TW gaming ?

With 6GB of RAM on a 64 bit OS I havn't seen more than 3.5GB go into use in ETW, so if you have 4GB installed on a 32 bit it should be just fine.

[War&Politics]

Well, generally speaking more RAM is better. So if you have more than 4Gigs RAM all that extra RAM is going to go to waste.

[BURNY26]

ok ,but if im not mistaken you can configure hard disk space to be used as extra RAM . Giving a total of ... Gb . So in this case im left outside with a 32 bit system ?

[Taiji]

You're not mistaken but you don't want to use your slow HDD as a substitute for RAM... because it's slow.

[BURNY26]

well i got 6b RAM standard ,so im screwed anyway . Ill update my 32 too 64 . Thx for the help guys . +rep for everybody

[GasMask]

64 BIT WINS on gaming terms but 32 bit is the best option for casual resources a family computer etc but if your wanting to use editing programes and such things as games etc 64 bit is the way to flippin to go

[Dewy]

With 6GB of RAM on a 64 bit OS I havn't seen more than 3.5GB go into use in ETW, so if you have 4GB installed on a 32 bit it should be just fine.

ETW shouldn't use more than 2 GB

64 BIT WINS on gaming terms but 32 bit is the best option for casual resources a family computer etc but if your wanting to use editing programes and such things as games etc 64 bit is the way to flippin to go

That doesn't make to much sense since most applications and games are 32 bit applications.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

ETW shouldn't use more than 2 GB

ETW is not limited to 2GB, where'd you get that idea?

[Simetrical]

There's no good reason these days to use 32-bit that I know of. Use 64-bit across the board.

With 6GB of RAM on a 64 bit OS I havn't seen more than 3.5GB go into use in ETW, so if you have 4GB installed on a 32 bit it should be just fine.

Just because ETW isn't using it directly doesn't mean it's not benefiting you. The operating system uses all available RAM for disk cache, if nothing else. The benefit from extra RAM should be especially great on Windows Vista and 7, due to SuperFetch. It should significantly improve loading times for games.

ok ,but if im not mistaken you can configure hard disk space to be used as extra RAM . Giving a total of ... Gb . So in this case im left outside with a 32 bit system ?

You can't use a hard disk as RAM – RAM is a physical chip inside your computer, and a hard disk is a different device. You can use part of your disk for a page file, which allows you to go beyond 4 GB of virtual memory available even on a 32-bit machine, but that's vastly slower than using actual RAM.

64 BIT WINS on gaming terms but 32 bit is the best option for casual resources a family computer etc but if your wanting to use editing programes and such things as games etc 64 bit is the way to flippin to go

32-bit is not superior for casual use. It's more or less strictly inferior in every way, unless you have a device that has only a 32-bit driver or such.

ETW is not limited to 2GB, where'd you get that idea?

32-bit applications are limited to 2 GB of RAM on Windows with default settings, even if the OS is 64-bit. ETW could only use more if it packaged both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. This might well be the case, I don't know, but it's plausible to me that they'd only support 2 GB.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

Just because ETW isn't using it directly doesn't mean it's not benefiting you. The operating system uses all available RAM for disk cache, if nothing else. The benefit from extra RAM should be especially great on Windows Vista and 7, due to SuperFetch. It should significantly improve loading times for games.

I'm well aware of that Didn't feel the need to mention it to him since I was only addressing how much RAM was in use while playing ETW.

32-bit applications are limited to 2 GB of RAM on Windows with default settings, even if the OS is 64-bit. ETW could only use more if it packaged both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. This might well be the case, I don't know, but it's plausible to me that they'd only support 2 GB.

It could be that ETW can only use the 2GB, if so my system was using 1.5GB for other applications, that seems a bit much too me, but entirely possible.

[Dewy]

ETW is not limited to 2GB, where'd you get that idea?

arh because it is a 32 bit application

[GasMask]

Just get 64 bit !!!!!!


Something that always was in my head was 180bit but yeah ..... anyway lol ill get my coat.

[Simetrical]

You can tell if you just look in the Task Manager . . .

[Top-Tier-Tech]

You can tell if you just look in the Task Manager . . .

Never felt the need, the screen on my keyboard displays the RAM use so I can monitor it all the time and it doesn't make a difference to me whether ETW uses more or less than 2GB of RAM really.

[magpie]

To jump in, I am building a new set up, I have the option to use 32 or 64 windows 7 I have the windows 7 ultimate version, can any one give me advice as well on the virtual XP function, regards, mags

[Top-Tier-Tech]

To jump in, I am building a new set up, I have the option to use 32 or 64 windows 7 I have the windows 7 ultimate version, can any one give me advice as well on the virtual XP function, regards, mags

If you have 4GB or RAM or more go with 64 bit. If you have less than 4GB of RAM but may add more in the future go with 64 bit.

If you have less than 4GB of RAM and don't plan on adding more later on then use 32 bit.

[Jaketh]

If you have 4GB or RAM or more go with 64 bit. If you have less than 4GB of RAM but may add more in the future go with 64 bit.

If you have less than 4GB of RAM and don't plan on adding more later on then use 32 bit.

i have only 2gb of RAM and using 64bit, but thats just cause im badass like that