Windows 7 Pro 64-bit - questions regarding RAM and processors 1

[PPettit]

I've got some questions about Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. I'm hoping that someone here can answer them or point me to a relevant article that I haven't found.

Background:
I'm trying to figure out a standardized desktop build for my company. For the most part, everyone runs Office 2007, Remote Desktop, IE8, PC Anywhere, and Symantec Endpoint Protection (antivirus).

I have two main questions:
1. RAM - Would I notice any real difference between 4GB and 8GB?
2. Cores - Would I notice any real difference between dual and quad core processors?

So far, my research tends to indicate that I would see no noticeable differences regarding either issue. Anyone have any information or real-world experiences to confirm or deny this conclusion?

 

[linney]

These just tend to confirm your own research. Interestingly programs such as Photoshop that are correctly written for the newer technology do seem to have a noticeable performance boost with more Ram and Quad Core.

Single, Dual or Quad Core: Which Is Best For You?

http://hubpages.com/hub/Single__Dual_or_Quad_Core_Which_Is_Best_For_You

Will upgrading from 4GB to 8GB make a noticable difference?

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/249649-29-will-upgrading-make-noticable-difference

 

[Nelviticus]

For the most part, everyone runs Office 2007, Remote Desktop, IE8, PC Anywhere, and Symantec Endpoint Protection (antivirus).

If those are the only apps you run then no, you won't see much if any benefit from either quad core or 8GB RAM.

Nelviticus

 

[tf1]

In the real world with what you are running, I doubt any would perceive benefit from quad-core, ram or 64-bit.

On the downside, you're letting yourself in for possible horrible 64-bit driver problems.

Office 2007 only comes in 32-bit version and what benefit would PCAnywhere, IE8 or AV have at 64-bit?

That lot would run with an Atom processor and 2GB memory.



Regards: Terry

 

[Nelviticus]

Office 2007 only comes in 32-bit version

That doesn't matter. 32-bit software runs just fine on 64-bit Windows.

Nelviticus

 

[manhunter2826]

As an aside: Windows 7 Home Premium - does it come in both 32 and 64 bit versions? If so, does one have to specify at the point of purchase? The reason I ask is that a laptop I am interested in purchasing (an Asus X5DIJ) has a spec of 'Windows 7 Home Premium' - they seem to be lacking more info, which is not very helpful. Thanks, as always.

 

[Nelviticus]

If you buy a boxed copy of Windows you'll get both 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs in the box. If you buy a PC with Windows pre-installed then it depends on the vendor - many of them don't give you the Windows discs at all.

There are 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 Home Premium, so you'll need to check with the supplier which version the machine you're looking at comes with. Googling the model number shows lots of machines with 3GB RAM, so I suspect it comes with the 32-bit version.

Nelviticus

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks Nel, really kind of you. Yes, the model I am interested in buying has 4GB Ram, and Intel GMA shared graphics.

 

[Nocandu]

Hi

I just got a new computer with a i7 quad core processor and 8 gigs of ram and Windows 7 64 bit.

I'm running Photoshop CS 2, InDesign CS4, Illustrator CS3 Adobe Premiere etc.

The only problem I had was with InDesign CS2, it just plain wouldn't run in 64 bit Windows. It had run fine when I was running Windows & 32 bit on my old computer. Hence the upgrade to CS4.

Every thing else runs fine in 64 bit in including Office 2003 and all my other old software.

Mike

 

[PPettit]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

For a little more information...
I was considering making the switch to 64-bit Windows 7 because it seems like that's where everything is heading. 32 bit systems and applications appear to be on the decline. With the relatively small price difference between them, it just seems logical to chose 64 over 32.

I've completely skipped Vista (with Windows 7 being just a tweaked version of Vista) and have never used a 64 bit operating system, so I wasn't sure how much of a resource hog either one would be.

Also, Office 2010 will be coming out next year and if I remember correctly, it will come in 32 and 64 bit versions. Since we rely heavily on Excel and Outlook, it seems like we'd get some benefit from the 64 bit OS and apps. Even on relatively decent 32 bit systems, Excel and Outlook can be a bit sluggish at times. Anything I can do to improve them would be welcome by my users.

 

[Nocandu]

Hi

I went from XP to Windows 7 too.
I ran Windows 7RC from the day it became available.
I also asked a lot of questions about going to 64 bit.

I have to say is wasn't he hassle that I thought it might be.
No problem getting drivers for my hardware except my scanner.
Epson seems to be behind the curve when it comes to 64 bit but I found another program that will run the scanner in 64 bit and then open the files in Photoshop so the inconvenience is miner.

32 bit will got the way of 16 bit I remember having concerns about that as well. I suppose that eventually we will have 128 bit operating systems.

Mike

 

[tf1]

I doubt anyone would argue that 64-bit Win 7 runs great, installs easy, uses available memory over 3GB and will be the way forward.

The gripes are 64-bit driver support and some really wacko bugs with 32-bit apps (probably because there are far fewer heavy-duty 64-bit testers than 32-bit testers).

If you are confident that you can get all the 64-bit drivers you need, then you'll love it.


Regards: Terry

 

[linney]

32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/41531554-d5ef-4f2c-8fb9-149bdc5c8a701033.mspx

Which ever flavor you choose (and I hope it is 64-bit), remember that this is available as a free download for your version of Windows 7.

Windows Virtual PC
Download Windows XP Mode

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

Microsoft® Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...7f-8538-4619-8d1c-05d27e11adb2&displaylang=en

 

[biglebowski]

I'm running 7 ultimate 64 bit on a Dell latitude with 4GB. Although it runs absolutley fine and handles vmware workstation without any problems I'm going back to the 32 bit version. My issues are that 64bit win 7 can't run

Cisco VPN Client
Vmware VI client

"Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary, and you can probably get a career in it.
Anything invented after you’re thirty-five is against the natural order of things."

 

[Pagey]

You will be pleased to know that Cisco have finbally relented and produced a 64bit vpn client. It's in Beta at the mo, but seems to run fine. The speed cisco work at, should only take 5 years to move from beta to gold.

http://tools.cisco.com/support/down...dfid=&imname=&treeName=Security&hybrid=&imst=

vpnclient-winx64-msi-5.0.07.0240-k9-BETA.exe

 

[strongm]

>The gripes are 64-bit driver

They are not. Really. Not any more. Those days are long gone.

 

[PPettit]

Since there's been some recent activity on this thread, I thought that I'd provide an update of sorts.

I went with the fastest dual-cores I could get, 4GB RAM, and the 64-bit version. So far, the systems are running great.

The only real problem that I've run into so far has been my antivirus software (Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.04). The virus protection seemed to work just fine, but it gave me frequent error messages related to the Proactive or Network Threat Protection features. I was able to download an updated version (11.05) and the error messages stopped. However, I haven't had a chance to see if the update just got rid of the messages, or if it actually made all of the features fully functional.