4GB on a 32-bit OS vs 4GB on 64-bit OS

[aj95]

ok lets say i buy 4GB ( 2x1GB) and i put it in my pc with my vista home basic. ( 32 bit )
should i do that or would i get a SIGNIFICANT performance using 4GB in a 64 bit O/S?
i read the other post about this and i didn't understand it. could someone explain it to me
the easy way? and if i plan on gaming would i be better off with 64 or 32bit? using 4 GB of ram

 

[zodiacfml]

if you don't have any old devices and old applications that you use, i suggest going to 64 bit.
if you do have, 64 bit is not worth the hassle.
32 bit vista can see memory up to 3.5 GB.

 

[eklipz330]

2x1gb =/= 4gb, thats basic math dude

with 32-bit OS, you'll only register like 3.5gb of ram. so half a gb is useless

with 64-bit OS, you can max out at like 128gb of ram. theres always room for more ram -_-

and as far as im concerned, 64-bit is becoming more mainstream, and should really expand with multi core processors and such that are the norm now

 

[particleman]

More memory = less time spent accessing the HDD

^_^

I love my 8gb in Vista 64bit

-PM

 

[geofelt]

There will not be a significant difference in performance with 4gb under either 32bit or 64 bit operation.
However, for $10, microsoft will send you the 64 bit DVD.
You will get a more secure OS that can take advantage of more ram.
Also, get that 4gb in a 2x2gb kit. It preserves your option to go to 8gb. and two sticls are easier to overclock than 4.

 

[huron]

Hasn't this been covered if you search "2gb vs 4gb vista"?

 

[aj95]

There will not be a significant difference in performance with 4gb under either 32bit or 64 bit operation.
However, for $10, microsoft will send you the 64 bit DVD.
You will get a more secure OS that can take advantage of more ram.
Also, get that 4gb in a 2x2gb kit. It preserves your option to go to 8gb. and two sticls are easier to overclock than 4.

10 bucks? wait are u serious? can you tell me how to do that? and where to order it from?

 

[zodiacfml]

that is for shipping and handling costs only and you must have Vista ultimate.

anyways, for this topic this is tom's article

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/vista-workshop,1775.html

 

[zodiacfml]

correction there, not necessarily vista ultimate. i meant, full retail version of vista.

 

[geofelt]

correction there, not necessarily vista ultimate. i meant, full retail version of vista.

Also applies to the the upgrade version which is considered retail. It costs about the same as OEM. There is a legitimate procedure for installing an upgrade version on a new machine.

 

[jevon]

I wouldn't run Vista 32 bit in my system even if I had 4GB of RAM installed (so it would be seeing a little over 3GB of that, including the video card's memory as well I believe). Vista loves ram, I would only use it with the 64-bit version and 4Gb otherwise I'd use XP 32-bit.

 

[Spitfire7]

I wouldn't run Vista 32 bit in my system even if I had 4GB of RAM installed (so it would be seeing a little over 3GB of that, including the video card's memory as well I believe). Vista loves ram, I would only use it with the 64-bit version and 4Gb otherwise I'd use XP 32-bit.

For whatever its worth I noticed a huge increase in performance for FSX when I went from 2GB to 4GB. But then realized I was having issues with 4 1GB sticks and had to move to 2 2GB sticks. All is well and it is always better when you get 2 bigger sticks rather then 4 smaller sticks. Corsair even warned me about this and said it takes more time going back and forth from 4 sticks then when you just have 2.