Stephen Hobson

One of the most common arguments that I encounter in IRC rooms and sometimes on Skype is 32-bit or 64-bit systems. I am currently running on a 32-bit machine but as I stated in a previous post, I will be upgrading to a new PC soon and it is 64-bit. Anyway, if you are deciding between 32-bit or 64-bit, this post may help you out. Whether to settle an argument or to help you choose your next PC. Obviously this does not apply to Mac users due to the fact that all Macs are 64-bit. However, PC manufactures are not quite ready to completely switch over. So, here we go.

Let us start off with 32-bit’s advantages. As many gamers will tell you, 32-bit is better for gaming. Why you may ask? Because a larger percentage of 3D games only work on 32-bit. This used to be the case for one of my favorite free FPS games called Crossfire. It is only recently they began supporting 64-bit versions of Windows. Even if you are not a gamer, 32-bit actually has better support for certain hardware drivers. Also, if you are running on Windows 7, you can access God Mode. You can find out more about God Mode by clicking here.

Now that you know the advantages of using a 32-bit based machine, we now move on to the disadvantages of using a 32-bit based machine. One of which is not having the ability to find and utilize all of your RAM. Anything over 3.4 GB is not found or used by the OS. So, even if you have six GB of physical memory installed on your motherboard, your PC can only use 3.4 GB out of that six. Yet another disadvantage of a 32-bit based system is the fact that most 32-bit processors are slower than 64-bit based processors. Of course, a lot of the speed comes from the frequency the processor is clocked at. For example, a 2.5 GHz 32-bit processor V.S. a 2.5 GHz 64-bit processor. The 64-bit processor would feel about 200 MHz faster when using it.

Now on to the advantages of using a 64-bit based system. When you are running on a 64-bit based system you have the ability to take advantage of up to 17.2 billion GB (16 EB) of RAM. Obviously no motherboard that exist can hold that much RAM. Although this advantage is very handy if you have more that 3.4 GB or RAM installed in your machine. Another advantage is the fact that 64-bit processors are slightly faster than 32-bit processors. As I stated above, a 64-bit processor actually feels about 200 MHz faster than a 32-based processor. Likely my favorite advantage of having a 64-bit machine is that 64-bit systems are actually safer. Due to the fact that 32-bit is more widely used throughout businesses as well as the consumer market, 64-bit is less of a target for Malware. Believe it or not, compatibility is actually in the advantages list. Why? Because 64-bit actually runs more applications than 32-bit. With newer versions of Windows, your 64-bit system will not only run 64-bit applications but 32-bit as well. If you decide to run a 32-bit application, it will simply run it in something that is similar to a virtual machine but more seamless. When you download a 32-bit application it is placed in the x86 folder. So, when you run the application, if you look in your task manager, you will see (process name)*32. Some users call a 64-bit machine the “best of both worlds.” However, even though you can run most 32-bit applications on a 64-bit machine, there are some draw backs.

Even though most software that is 32-bit runs on 64-bit, drivers are a whole different story. Regular old applications can be run in a virtual environment. However, drivers are not quite that advanced yet. Attempting to run a 32-bit driver on 64-bit will most likely result in the driver crashing. Although most drivers are 64-bit ready and some can be run in a virtual environment, for those that have older devices that are no longer produced, it might be best for you to get a 32-bit system. The last disadvantage of using a 64-bit system is the fact that a lot of 3D games cannot run on 64-bit. Whether you try to run them in a virtual environment or not, if a 3D game says 32-bit only, it is likely going to be 32-bit only with no exceptions.

In the end, it all comes down to what situation you are in. If you are a gamer or you use older pieces of hardware, a 32-bit system might be the better choice for you. If you have hardware that has been released or updated within the last two years and you are constantly craving more speed, you might consider purchasing a 64-bit based machine. If you have your own opinion that you would like to share then please feel free to post it in a comment or send me an E-mail to Stephen@rivahratt.co.cc.