Why does windows 7 64bit require more disk space/ram

Question

Why does windows 7 64bit require more disk space and more RAM?

http://windows.microsoft.com/systemrequirements is where I got the information.

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 15 '13 at 23:09

9

Windows 64 Bit includes several programs in both 32bit and 64bit versions (like Internet Explorer). This is one reason for the higher disk space requirement. The RAM is probably due to similar reasons and that the 64bit pointer just requires twice as much space.

edited Feb 15 '13 at 23:09

GAThrawn

4,360

answered Feb 14 '13 at 07:08

ChaosCakeCoder

365

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 14 '13 at 07:19

64 bit applications use larger variables and thus need more RAM.

An int (variable integer) on 32bit is generally 2 to the 32nd power, and on 64bit it's generally 2 to the 64th power.

As for the space requirement, Windows installs both 32bit and 64bit versions of it's default applications like Internet Explorer.

Why does windows 7 64bit require more disk space/ram

2 Answers2