Have a new SSD - based on the specs, Win. 7 x86 or x64?

[d3fu5i0n]

So, the HDD in my grandmother's PC is dying and I managed to get hold of a 64GB Crucial m4 SSD for a good price [not much different to a small HDD].

Based on the specs. of the system - and as I will need to reinstall Windows - would you install a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the OS?
I was personally thinking that 4GB of RAM should be a good minimum for 64-bit, but I want to know other people's personal opinions.

The system specification:
Athlon 64 X2 6000+ [stock 3GHz] @ 3.15GHz [Windsor 90nm]
ASUS M3A76-CM
3X1GB [3GB] DDR2 800MHz @ 5-5-5-15
HD 5670 512MB GDDR5

P.S. If this thread needs moving, please do so and remove this line.

Thanks.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

There is zero reason to ever install a 32bit OS anymore. x64 all the way.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Unless you have some 16-bit apps, like old PC games, then install X64 (64-bit).

It's definitely the way of the future, will allow you to use more RAM if you add it, and generally is slightly faster.

Edit: I've installed 64-bit on a PC with only 1GB of RAM, and it was running out of swap most of the time.
With 2GB of RAM, nearly all of it will be used, with just a base OS install. It will be usable, but just barely.
With 3GB of RAM, then you have another GB just for application usage, which should be enough for Firefox for the most part, etc.

Adding a fourth 1GB stick would be optimal, and allow you to use 4GB in dual-channel mode, and would provide a good amount of free memory for application usage.

I'm currently using 3.9 GB of RAM, according to Task Manager.

I have two Waterfox tabs open, and several BOINC tasks (six-core CPU, plus two GPUs). CoreTemp, Precision, and AIM open too.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

Unless you have some 16-bit apps, like old PC games, then install X64 (64-bit).

It's definitely the way of the future, will allow you to use more RAM if you add it, and generally is slightly faster.

Edit: I've installed 64-bit on a PC with only 1GB of RAM, and it was running out of swap most of the time.
With 2GB of RAM, nearly all of it will be used, with just a base OS install. It will be usable, but just barely.
With 3GB of RAM, then you have another GB just for application usage, which should be enough for Firefox for the most part, etc.

Adding a fourth 1GB stick would be optimal, and allow you to use 4GB in dual-channel mode, and would provide a good amount of free memory for application usage.

I'm currently using 3.9 GB of RAM, according to Task Manager.

I have two Waterfox tabs open, and several BOINC tasks (six-core CPU, plus two GPUs). CoreTemp, Precision, and AIM open too.

Well when I stay there, I generally play MW2, HL2, Track Mania, etc.
I didn't see 1-1.5GB left over being enough.
I'm sure that I remember having RAM issues with 2GB (with MW2) on 32-bit, before and as to why I used a spare 1GB DIMM lying around to make 3GB.

 

[Kathi201]

64 bit is fine to install in every system because of good and perfect speed...

 

[kornphlake]

That processor is getting a little long in the tooth, not ancient but it's a little old. Some peripherals that are the same age (printers, scanners, etc.) don't have drivers for 64 bit operating systems. Do some research first, moving to a 64 bit OS may mean upgrading more than just the OS.

 

[xSauronx]

There is zero reason to ever install a 32bit OS anymore. x64 all the way.

Some software vendors STILL don't support a 64-bit OS. You can use xp mode to get a 32 bit vm for such software, but who really wants to be bothered with that?

/had to be bothered with that recently.

 

[d3fu5i0n]

Some software vendors STILL don't support a 64-bit OS. You can use xp mode to get a 32 bit vm for such software, but who really wants to be bothered with that?

/had to be bothered with that recently.

All the hardware and peripherals are modern [as in, SSDs, HDDs, ODDs, webcams, video cards, etc.]. It was the RAM amount that was my worry.
Well, considering that the install will be done today - I'll install the x64 version and if it doesn't operate well enough, then I'll install the x86 version - or... I could convince my grandmother to get some more RAM.
But 1) That's more money.
And 2) If she upgrades in... a year or two on the CPU/Mobo side of things, then all that DDR2 [which is high-cost these days] will have been a wasteful investment, especially if I do decide to go away for uni. soon and I don't stay there. She'd then be upgrading to DDR3 or DDR4 [if DDR4 ever got to the consumer level (quickly enough) compared to Haswell-Ex [server platform] getting it in 2014] along with the other shift in hardware.

 

[Charlie98]

Maybe look around in the freebies section here and get another 1GB card for just shipping, that's how I got some additional RAM for my old DDR2 Dell for cheap.