My host is a 64-bit ubuntu operating system and I want to setup a windows 7 virtual machine.
I suspect that using a 32-bit windows 7 vm does not have any benefits regarding the RAM and disk space usage in my case - as every 32-bit memory address of the VM would be mapped onto a 64-bit memory address of the host.
Is that correct and should I install a 64-bit vm instead?
You should install 32-bit x86 version. The reason being, Windows 7 64-bit x64 requires minimum RAM of 2 GB to function properly. A 32-bit system in this case can function properly and pretty well on 2GB RAM.
I think you should install the 64-bit version. I mean, if you use a 32-bit vm on a computher that is able to work with 64-bit, it is like if you had bought a Ferrari to drive at 20 mph. You're not getting the maximum performance level that the 64-bit system offers, because of the restrictions of the 32-bit vm you're using.
This might vary depending on the vm you're using, but I would recommend you to install the 64-bit vm, to ensure you take advantage of the benefits that the 64-bit technology provides you with.
