32 bit vs 64 bit operating system?

by admin on Mar.26, 2010, under bio caddy

I have a laptop with an Intel duo core T800 processor 4g RAM but I am running a 32 bit OS, I am told it can run a 64 bit OS. What would be the advantage/disadvantage of replacing one for the other?

:Bit Operating System, Intel, Intel Duo Core, Laptop, Running, System 32

6 Comments for this entry

lady gaga
March 26th, 2010 on 2:48 am
Advantages of 32-bit OS:You can use older programs.Advantages of 64-bit OS.You are more future proof, and programs 3 years from now that are strictly 64-bit will work fine.I recommend both.I use Windows XP SP3, Windows 98se, and Windows 7 on 3 separate partitions. Google it, you won't be disappointed. There are many tutorials on installing a new operating system with the ability to boot to either one.
lady gaga
March 26th, 2010 on 2:48 am
64bit architecture is capable of handling higher capacity devices and memory, such as 4GB RAM or more. 64bit therefore allows you to handle more applications at the same time, whereas 32bit will suffer from its memory management capabilities. But basically, if you don't need 64bit don't install it. But if you have at least 4GB RAM, then go for it, because 32bit has trouble managing such high amounts of RAM, and in some motherboards, won't even be able to recognize all of it.
miley cyrus
March 26th, 2010 on 2:48 am
Stay with what you have. I have one of each(32bit,4GB RAM)(64bit(8GB RAM)I see no difference in speed or performance from one to the other. They both are very fast and multitask well.
justin bieber
March 26th, 2010 on 2:48 am
The only advantage is that if you are running 64bit programs, it will be faster as twice the bandwith can be processed, but if you are running 32bit programs on a 64bit system, it slows things down just a tad as the extra 4 lanes that are enabled on a 64bit system still have to be filled to process them. The processor still has to process all 8 lanes, even though only 4 of them have actual real data on them. And the best reason to go 64 bit is so you can use more than 4GB of RAM, 32bit is restricted to access only 3GB of RAM.
lady gaga
March 26th, 2010 on 2:48 am
What the first poster said plus you can actually use all 4GB of ram with a 64-bit system.http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/03…
miley cyrus
March 26th, 2010 on 2:48 am
32 bits addresses 4GB maximum (like 3 digits addresses 999 maximum). Since video RAM and system RAM "live" in the same address space, if you have a video card ("computers" like the one in your car or the one in your microwave oven don't) you can't "see" 4GB of system memory with a 32 bit system. With a 64 bit system, you can "see" more memory than any computer can currently hold (and that will probably be true for 10 years – or more).A VERY few programs won't run in a 64 bit system – that's about the only disadvantage – if you happen to need to use one of those programs.