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The it department installed a 32bit win7 on the I7 machine they are giving me. I saw several questions asking here whether it is possible, which i now is the case, but I am still no clear about the prices.

Will the os or the programs I install, somehow use only part of the resources of the machine? Will I pay in performance for not having a 64bit os?

My RAM is 4gb and I plan to expand it to 6 or 8

p.s. The 32bit os is already installed. So I am not asking what is generally better to do, but what are the prices and whether they worth bothering the IT to reinstall

edit: the question here 32-bit vs. 64-bit systems relates to 64bit vs 32bit hardware and alsow touches the question of 32bit programs on a 64bti hardware. But it does not address the specific issue I ask here about: 32bit os on a 64bit architecture

Community
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shealtiel
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1 Answers1

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Unless you have RAM above 3GB (which would be cut, since 32 bit Windows normally could only address around 3-3,75 GB depending on the RAM taken by VGA, soundcard etc), or apps that are optimized for 64 bit (obviously if you can run them, they do have 32 bit version but otherwise more optimized for 64 bit) such as Photoshop or video editing apps, then your PC would run just as good as any. If your RAM is under 3GB, running 64-bit could even be slower due to the overhead with the OS and the 32-bit emulation layer. In my company 64-bit system usually have some quirk with old app or hardware (including shared printer), so while it could be solved, maybe your IT department just try to save some headache.

Martheen
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