32 bit or 64 bit PLEASE HELP

[Random3r]

Ok OK I have been reading up on the differences and all of the jargen to go with it, so the question is... by what I have gathered if you are running a 32 bit os and 32 bit processor this gives you the ability to use upto 4gb of ram where as if you are runnig 64 bit os and processor then you have the ability to use upto 16 eb. I have never seen a computer or laptop for sale with a 16 eb memory though, most of them come with around 4 gb the same as what a 32 bit set up would, so is this not restricting the 64 bit systems to the same speed as the 32's??? any help appreciated! :')

[Magus]

From this link (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa366778(v=vs.85).aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_7) - you can clearly see why the x64 architecture operating system limited to 16 GB, because that windows version limits it to that only.

Home basic is 8, and Home premium is 16. So, it depends on what Window version we are talking about.

[AutoPlay]

Its not just RAM that affected by the 32/64 bit architectures but i wont go into detail.

Anyway, at work we have a server running Windows Server 2008 with around 256GB of RAM total. 64bit operating systems aren't limited by the actual architecture but limited in fact by the operating system itself.

Microsoft purposely limit the amount of RAM you can use on Starter, Home Basic and Premium. They do this so you HAVE to go out and buy either Ultimate or Professional.

If you were an extreme gamer who wants to play games on full settings or run a home server at the same time your going to need a fuck load of RAM. 16GB on Home Premium isn't going to cut it so you have to go spend more money on Ultimate.

See what i'm getting at?

[Random3r]

Its not just RAM that affected by the 32/64 bit architectures but i wont go into detail.

Anyway, at work we have a server running Windows Server 2008 with around 256GB of RAM total. 64bit operating systems aren't limited by the actual architecture but limited in fact by the operating system itself.

Microsoft purposely limit the amount of RAM you can use on Starter, Home Basic and Premium. They do this so you HAVE to go out and buy either Ultimate or Professional.

If you were an extreme gamer who wants to play games on full settings or run a home server at the same time your going to need a fuck load of RAM. 16GB on Home Premium isn't going to cut it so you have to go spend more money on Ultimate.

See what i'm getting at?

So are you saying that the 32bit opperating systems are limited by the arcutecture and not the os unlike the 64 bit ones?

[AutoPlay]

So are you saying that the 32bit opperating systems are limited by the arcutecture and not the os unlike the 64 bit ones?

Yes, 32bit is an old standard. It has surpassed its life expectancy massively.

[TheMatrix]

You can get around the restriction using something called PAE(Physical Address Extension) on a 32-bit machine, but I'm not sure if that works(never tried it).
But you might as well get a 64-bit machine, most OSes have 32-bit compatibility.

[Random3r]

Yes, 32bit is an old standard. It has surpassed its life expectancy massively.

Im currently running a 6yr old laptop with 32bit and it plods along haha but im wanting something better and going towards the sony vaio, yno when you say "arcutecture" is that the same as hardware? this is where I start to get lost :/ you see when I think of arcutecture I think of Buildings and blue prints ahah

You can get around the restriction using something called PAE(Physical Address Extension) on a 32-bit machine, but I'm not sure if that works(never tried it).
But you might as well get a 64-bit machine, most OSes have 32-bit compatibility.

yeh I have herd alot about that, but a couple of people say that it only applies if you are using home premium and not professional but im not sure because others say not :/

No double-posting, please. ~Thomas