64 or 32 bit win 7?

[Wreckie]

Which one should I install? What are benefits of each. Is it trouble with drivers of 64-bit version on iMac? Can 64-bit run 32-bit software?

 

[Glen Quagmire]

http://www.howtogeek.com/56701/htg-...fference-between-32-bit-and-64-bit-windows-7/

64-bit, unless there is a good reason not to. I can't imagine you'd have any problems with drivers (my almost 5 year old Mac Pro doesn't). And you can run 32-bit applications on 64-bit Windows.

 

[Dresevski]

I have 64-bit. Works perfectly. Use that RAM!

 

[MacHamster68]

go for 64 bit windows7 after all its more secure then 32 bit windows7

 

[Psilocybin]

go for 64 bit windows7 after all its more secure then 32 bit windows7

More secure? Not at all

 

[sth]

Windows 7 64bit works fine with current Macs.

As for 32bit vs. 64bit: No practical difference in performance or security, but the 64bit version can access more than 2gb RAM per application / 4gb RAM overall.
Furthermore, the 64bit version can run 64bit and 32bit software, so as long as you don't depend on any old peripherals which have no compatible drivers available, 64bit is the way to go.

 

[CosmoPilot]

I have 64-bit installed on my Core 2 Duo 2.4 MBP...works flawlessly!

 

[theSeb]

There is no reason to run 32 bit windows unless you're planning to run some old software that has issues running under 64 bit windows.

 

[tempusfugit]

If you plan on addressing more than 4 gb of memory your hands are tied. You need 64 bit to do this.

 

[g-boac]

32 bit advantages?

two questions:
[1] are there any advantages to running 32-bit software? Such as a significantly reduced installation footprint if using a smaller SSD?

[2] on an HD+SSD iMac, can you designate your bootcamp partition to be on either the HD or the SSD? I'd prefer to use the SSD as my primary Mac OS drive, and put the windows partition on the HDD.

thanks!
Mark

 

[coolspot18]

two questions:
[1] are there any advantages to running 32-bit software? Such as a significantly reduced installation footprint if using a smaller SSD?

32-bit Windows is *slightly* smaller, but not by much.

I would just install 64-bit Windows unless you have software or devices that are not 64-bit compatible.

 

[frunkis54]

if you have the 32bit installed and have the 64bit disc can you just put the 64bit disk in and upgrade or is it more involved like redoing you bootcamp partition.

 

[Dresevski]

if you have the 32bit installed and have the 64bit disc can you just put the 64bit disk in and upgrade or is it more involved like redoing you bootcamp partition.

Not positive but I'm pretty sure you'd need to reinstall. Meaning wiping that partition, clean installing W7, then having to reinstall all of the Apple drivers for Boot Camp. Annoying but probably worth it.

 

[dndlnx]

All the cool kids are running 64-bit.

 

[clark1]

I do not game. I have not installed via Boot Camp, but have both 64-bit and 32-bit as virtual machines on Parallels. I am recent new iMac owner and purchased Windows 7 for some legacy programs and data files I may yet need. I installed 32-bit after 64-bit when I could not install a couple programs that did install on 32-bit. There was one program I could not install--an older version of Paperport, Pro 9, but did find a viewer to download for the file. I can print them to pdf if needed. So far so good.