64bit or 32bit Windows 7?

[KingstonU]

My build is Q9550 with 4870, 2x2GB G-Skill DDR2. Full rig is in my signature. Currently running XP SP3 OEM copy. If I buy the pre-order (in Canada btw) what kind of/how many problems/headaches am I likely to encounter if I go with the 64bit Home Premium version?

I use the computer mostly for gaming now that I'm out of school. Have Crysis/Gears/Mass Effect. Oldest game I play is Half-Life 2 but I could give that up if it doesn't work. Do any games of these games or games that came out the same time not work on 64bit? Are most games now 64bit?

What programs won't work? Chrome? Windows media player classic? Winamp? Office 2007? FLV player? hmmm thinking of other programs that I use...

If it's a factor, I hope on getting an SSD around the time that 7 comes out since it's supposed to be optimized to take advantage of them, if prices drop enough and the TRIM thing fixes the slowdown problem.

Here are some links that I found that mention problems are possible: Link 1 , Link 2

So 64bit or 32 bit? Help me decide! Thanks!

 

[dawks]

As far as I know, Windows 7 disks are shipping with both 32bit and 64bit binaries available so you don't have to make the decision when you order.

I'd say go 64bit. I have been running Vista 64 for a while on my Mac Pro and it works fine, games run smooth, winamp, flash, chrome, VLC, all work great.

 

[Silicon Spear]

DONT use 32 bit, you will not be able to use all 4 GB of your RAM.

 

[zod96]

True. W7 will ship with both 64 and 32 bit versions. Then you decide

 

[slicksilver]

64 bit unless you have some old 32bit legacy apps which you need to run and might not work on 64 bit.

 

[postmortemIA]

64-bit is no brainer, I haven't seen many apps that are 32-bit and working on 32b-it but not working on 64-bit vista

 

[Tequila]

I can never go back to 32-bit. 64-bit Windows7 is pretty freaking sweet, you'll love it.

I'm typing this while I have EQ2 and Stalker:Clear Sky running at the same time and I'm using 3.72 GB of 6GB of memory. I can switch from one game to the other in a sec and either one runs smoothly. Then when I'm playing I fire up some music videos in the background.

Next up is to try vmware at the same time with linux mint running as guest os.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Tequila
I can never go back to 32-bit. 64-bit Windows7 is pretty freaking sweet, you'll love it.

I'm typing this while I have EQ2 and Stalker:Clear Sky running at the same time and I'm using 3.72 GB of 6GB of memory. I can switch from one game to the other in a sec and either one runs smoothly. Then when I'm playing I fire up some music videos in the background.

Next up is to try vmware at the same time with linux mint running as guest os.

Agreed.

Runny a few VMs on my lappy right now on 7 64bit. Works like a dream,