The Teej Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Just a question to you guys out there with 64-bit Windows 7 - how good is it? How is the compatibility? I heard Vista's 64-bit wasn't that great due to the low compatibility with hardware (and in some cases, software), although I'm not really sure how true that was to begin with, but does everything seem to be working okay on Windows 7 64-bit? I'm definitely going to be getting Windows 7, and was really considering taking advantage of my 64-bit C2D by getting 7 in a 64-bit flavour, but hesitant for the reasons above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdood Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Chances are that unless you have some really esoteric or old hardware/software, you aren't going to run into any problems at all. The compatibility issues are greatly exaggerated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Elі Subscriber² Posted June 19, 2009 Subscriber² Share Posted June 19, 2009 If i was you, I would get the 64-bit version; the vast majority of software packages and drivers currently work with that flavor of 7, You can also try it yourself using one of those latest builts that have leaked and see how things work for you, but I would suggest you to go for the 64-bit one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Teej Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 Chances are that unless you have some really esoteric or old hardware/software, you aren't going to run into any problems at all. The compatibility issues are greatly exaggerated. Haha, no, all my stuff is only a couple of years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Decryptor Veteran Posted June 19, 2009 Veteran Share Posted June 19, 2009 I would assume it's like Vista x64's, so quite good (but of course, better since it's newer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Teej Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 If i was you, I would get the 64-bit version; the vast majority of software packages and drivers currently work with that flavor of 7, You can also try it yourself using one of those latest builts that have leaked and see how things work for you, but I would suggest you to go for the 64-bit one. I wanted to do this, but my stupid hard drive (for whatever reason) refuses to be partitioned to hold enough space for a Windows 7 install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capr Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 there is really no reason to not do it... of course you will have the option to go above 3gb of ram if you need to if you do get 64bit.... have never had any compatibility issues with 64bit drivers and windows 7 works just like vista as far as that goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Observer Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Just a question to you guys out there with 64-bit Windows 7 - how good is it? How is the compatibility? I heard Vista's 64-bit wasn't that great due to the low compatibility with hardware (and in some cases, software), although I'm not really sure how true that was to begin with, but does everything seem to be working okay on Windows 7 64-bit? I'm definitely going to be getting Windows 7, and was really considering taking advantage of my 64-bit C2D by getting 7 in a 64-bit flavour, but hesitant for the reasons above. Dude ive had not problems 99% of apps and games will work. I say move to it, in the end your be there, and the sooner people move over the more software companys will make 64bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pendaws Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I am posting this from an install of Win 7, 7232 build. I find it MUCH better than Vista 64 and I even like it more than my Windows Server2008 64bit. I am still a fan of Ubuntu and have 9.04 on another drive but I think I will be using Win 7 when it comes out, I might even BUY it. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spUrr Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Windows 7 is running real smooth on my box. Due to nforce dropping PATA raid, it wont see my stripe set and the xp drivers I had running in Vista which worked don't in 7 but time I got a pure sata setup anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Teej Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 Well, I don't use PATA, I've got an all SATA setup :p So far, the comments all seem to be leaning in one direction. Thank you all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbbondy Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I've been using X64 of windows 7 since just before the RC came out. (I got a leaked version of the RC about a week before it came out) but if i'm honest, i've never run into any problems at all. This is my first X64 architecture OS because i've never really had good enough hardware for the justification of a 64-bit OS. I heard of all the problems that XP and to an extent, Vista X64 and was expecting at least some problems with the windows 7 X64 but i'm pleasantly surprised at the lack of problems. Overall, an astounding success! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Observer Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I might even BUY it. :D HAHAHA nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtrabit racing Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I have used Windows Vista x64 for a long time, experienced only minor problems with 2-3 software and game. Now running W7 b7229 x64 and very very happy now. XP x64 was terrible about compatibility... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deactivated_ Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I've been running Vista x64 for almost two years now with no major compatibility issues. (and even the minor ones were at the beginning.) Anyone who claims that x64 Vista had compatibility problems has never run Vista x64 and thus has no grounds to make such a claim. Edit: I totally agree 100% that XP x64 was horrible! so maybe that's where the whole x64-compatibility rumors started from. I've been using the various forms of Windows 7 x64 from the very beginning. Any build past 7000 has been great with compatibility, and 7100 and higher as been absolutely flawless. For the first time in my experience of installing operating systems, Windows 7 (yes, even x64) is the first I have not had to install any drivers post install of the OS. (Outside of running Windows Update, that is.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeemed Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I might even BUY it. :D What is this "buy" you speak of? :ermm: :p But in all seriousness, I think it's well worth the money. Pricewise, I'd prefer getting it OEM with some hardware, but I'd be willing to pay retail if that's the only (legal) way I could get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAckEur Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 one major advantage of x64 is the amount of RAM you can use depending on your motherboard and your wallet. I have 8gb divided in 4gb for Windoze 7 and 4gb as a ram drive. A Ram drive is fantastic for Virtual Machines (under 4gb), portables and internet sanboxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGHammer Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Well, I don't use PATA, I've got an all SATA setup :pSo far, the comments all seem to be leaning in one direction. Thank you all! I have a mixed setup (SATA HDD/PATA ODD) and I've run XP64/Vista64 and now 7 in 64-bit (currently running 7232). 64-bit has kept (and basically increased) that rather large lead it has over the 32-bit flavors of XP/Vista/7 in terms of both performance and stability (especially stability), and 7232 64-bit is the best of them all so far in that department. The biggest surprise is the utter lack of "regression errors" as builds move forward from the RC stage, even in low-memory situations like mine. (Consider that I run Windows 7 with just one gigabyte of RAM. It's not "what can you do with it" but more "what can't you do with it"; and the answer is "very little". I can do everything I could do with Vista or XP (and some things I could not do with either, even in 32-bit form, and with twice the RAM). Low RAM (with 64-bit) does NOT equal decreased stability. ODD = Optical Disk Drive (DVD/CD/BD drives) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmb219 Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 I've used Vista x64 and most if not all of the W7 builds and the 64 bit OS is definitely the way to go if your hardware works with it. I've had no issues with it at all with programs or hardware, not a gamer so I can't speak for that area. It just works and works well and fast. I installed the latest 32 bit version of W7 on a partition and after some installing, uninstalling and playing around I felt like I needed to format the drive again. Haven't had that feeling at all with a 64 bit OS even after a year. I know this is not a valid comparison, only a seat of the pants feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGHammer Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I've used Vista x64 and most if not all of the W7 builds and the 64 bit OS is definitely the way to go if your hardware works with it. I've had no issues with it at all with programs or hardware, not a gamer so I can't speak for that area. It just works and works well and fast. I installed the latest 32 bit version of W7 on a partition and after some installing, uninstalling and playing around I felt like I needed to format the drive again. Haven't had that feeling at all with a 64 bit OS even after a year. I know this is not a valid comparison, only a seat of the pants feel. That says a lot for how the background processes are tuned in a 64-bit operating system. It was that way even before the leakage of 7 started (comparing Vista 32 to Vista 64 heads-up). The feeling persists, even at the minimums, which means it has nothing to do with having gobs of RAM. After all, a mere gigabyte is barely ONE gob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DataCabbitKSW Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 The only real problem people have widely had with compatability on 64-bit versions of Windows is with driver support (or shoddy drivers, but that exists regardless). XP-64 was so unsupported except by a minor few manufacturers that it was not really worth trying to use it. Vista x64 in the very beginning suffered from this issue also, as many companies just did not write or compile their drivers for x64. This began giving way and by now, almost every device company that has had a recent product also ships 64-bit drivers (or makes them available anyways). Windows 7, by and large, can use Vista drivers of matching bit-depth (x86 vs. x64). So if you can't find a driver specific to Windows 7, you can often just use the Vista drivers. I had to do this with my Wi-Fi adapter in order to get it working. I say go 64-bit if your system can do it, and don't look back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkgable Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I use it and it is fantastic. The only problem I have had is finding drivers for my HP K80 printer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGHammer Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I use it and it is fantastic. The only problem I have had is finding drivers for my HP K80 printer. I switched to 64-bit (32-bit Ultimate to 64-bit Ultimate) while I still had but just *one* gig of system RAM, and the stability/performance *gain* (not loss) was such that I decided that I would only run a 32-bit OS in VMs. (That was six months ago, and I didn't upgrade to my current three gigs until Monday afternoon.) If you aren't blocked by driver or application/game issues, don't let a supposed lack of RAM hold you back, either. If I can do it with just a gig, and have helped others do the crossgrade with half that (512 MB), what's taking you so long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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