Windows 7/8 : 32 bits or 64 bits?

[Orphydian]

Ive just made an upgrade to my pc. Bought new motherboard , new processor, new graphic card
here are the rellevant links to all my components :

http://ark.intel.com/products/69114/...up-to-3_30-GHz
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=4092#ov
http://www.gigabyte.com.ro/products/...px?pid=4361#ov

I was previously running 32 bit windows 7 but now since Ive heard I cant used my new installed 4gb ddr3 RAM with 32 version I decide to install the 64 bit.

First thing Ive noticed there are two Program Files directories in my C drive : Program Files and Program files ( x86).They have pretty similar content only that some games and programs are only in x86 directory Im guessing only those running on 32 bits.So having 64 bits running will reduce your hard disk space.Are all my device drivers capable to run on 64 bits version? So every program I install will be "duplicate" in both of the directories and this will reduce my disk space?

So it is recommended to run the 64 version? intend to upgrade to windows 8 so this question is for it too.

[The Hedge Knight]

Programs only install in one directory the only difference between 32 and 64 bit programs being that 64 bit programs can use more ram (which often isn't needed). It will not affect your hard drive space. Most programs will install in the x86 directory as they have to be written differently to be 64 bit programs.

[Orphydian]

Ok so One need to install 64 bits Windows only if he want to run programs that demand more than than 3 gb RAM right like Adobe premiere right? what about my hardware. Im guessing its compatible with 64 bits.I see the drivers folders in both Program files so thats alright , isnt it?

[Crazyeyesreaper]

install 64bit

VRAM counts as ram so graphics memory etc matters

just cause an app may not use more than 2GB that 32bit windows limits it to (windows can see 4gb but 32bit apps are limited to 2gb) you can set an Application to Large Address aware to make it use up to 4GB of memory, People say it has no impact wrong, Skyrim is a prime example LAA had to be added by Bethesda to stop the PC version of the game from crashes, LAA works on 32bit as well but limit is 3gb.

Use 64bit, 32bit is dead, morons continue to use it to be blunt.

all hardware these days is 64bit compatible, because 64bit OS can still use a 32bit driver as such no issues to be found.

Only Microsoft seems to be behind the times, even Apple made the jump to 64bit only YEARS AGO.

I also prefer Windows 7 over 8 currently but should microsoft fix the interface Windows 8 would be fine its more a personal preference thing.

But essentially if you want more than 4GB of system memory and a badass video card, youll need 64bit windows

[Kritic]

install 64bit

VRAM counts as ram so graphics memory etc matters

just cause an app may not use more than 2GB that 32bit windows limits it to (windows can see 4gb but 32bit apps are limited to 2gb) you can set an Application to Large Address aware to make it use up to 4GB of memory, People say it has no impact wrong, Skyrim is a prime example LAA had to be added by Bethesda to stop the PC version of the game from crashes, LAA works on 32bit as well but limit is 3gb.

Use 64bit, 32bit is dead, morons continue to use it to be blunt.

all hardware these days is 64bit compatible, because 64bit OS can still use a 32bit driver as such no issues to be found.

Only Microsoft seems to be behind the times, even Apple made the jump to 64bit only YEARS AGO.

I also prefer Windows 7 over 8 currently but should microsoft fix the interface Windows 8 would be fine its more a personal preference thing.

But essentially if you want more than 4GB of system memory and a badass video card, youll need 64bit windows

I would be surprised if windows 8 even has a 32bit version but in any case yes 64bit is the only way now. 6-8Gb ram wouldn't hurt either. Rams pretty cheap.

[Bolkonsky]

Games share address space too, so if you want 4GB of RAM plus 2GB or VRAM (though practically no games utilize that) then you'd want to go with 64 bit. In fact, 64 bit is more or less always better, and I really doubt if 32 bit will be around for much longer.

[Orphydian]

Ok leaving the building fast ...I still want to be techy proof . Thanks!!

[Crazyeyesreaper]

Windows 8 does indeed have a 32 bit version, it will also be the LAST windows operating system to have a 32bit version

[Orphydian]

hey!!! I am in another dilema here: what if you want to install programs ( in my case mods) in another partitions or outside program files directories?

[Orphydian]

???

[irishron]

Total War mods have to be where the game is installed. Any other game, read the instructions.

[Orphydian]

Ive asked this in the context of those 2 program files folders that came with 64 bits OS .If I want to install a game outside those folders/another partition where to direct all my mods in order to not overload my C drive would that raise any problem?

[irishron]

I have my old Medieval2 and Rome in C:\Games folder with no problems.
Steam will now let you install anyplace your heart desires.
I have a couple of others that the default path being Program files (x86) and they are in C:\Games, too.