There are two versions of windows operating systems; there is a 32-bit and a 64-bit version.
So where is the difference? To solve this question, we will have to look at compatibility and performance in general.
For a 32-bit Windows operating system version, you will more likely to work with older hardware and software but you will miss out on the great performance as this can only be found in a 64-bit operating system.
In this guide today, we are going to take you through the two versions of Windows operating systems and recommend to you which one we think is the best according to our research and experience using them.
The 64-Bit Operating system
The 64-bit Windows version was first released to the world by Microsoft company in 2005. The 64-bit processor that was first introduced to the market in 2003, unleashed a lot of possibilities such as improved security and gaming performance and the ability to address more memory.
For a very long time, many OEMs preinstalled 32-bit windows on 64-bit systems for sound reasons.
Most of the applications and hardware drivers remained compatible with the previous architecture for years. Since the introduction of Windows 7 in 2009, 64-bit computing finally came to light.
Software drivers for popular peripherals ie printers and other devices supported the new architecture.
10 years after the 64-bit windows version was released, there are decisions to make when considering an upgrade to windows 10.
Choosing the right version for a 32-bit or 64-bit Operating System.
For you to choose the right bit for your operating system depends on different factors. We are going to go through all.
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Amount of RAM
For you to smoothly run a 64-bit Windows operating system, the RAM of your computer or laptop should be at least 4GB RAM or higher.
A 64-bit Windows operating system supports up to a maximum of 2TB RAM while a 64-bit can only support up to 3.2GB RAM.
The memory address space for 64-bit Windows is much larger which means that you will need to have at least two times as much memory as the 32-bit windows to accomplish some computer operations.
A 64-bit Windows operating system will be able to accomplish more tasks and some information and you can as well have more applications open, run an anti-virus scan in the background and even keep lots of tabs open without interfering with your computer’s system performance.
Even though 64-bit windows work perfectly on memories of 4GB or above, it can work fine on a memory of 2GB RAM as well.
Which version of windows 7 or windows 8 are you running?
Microsoft company recommends its users upgrade to at least Windows 10 version for them to enjoy some features that are not available in windows 7 and 8.
If you are using these two types of windows, then you should choose 32-bit windows and for windows 10 you choose the 64-bit version.
Does your CPU support the additional security features of a 64-bit version of the operating system?
Windows 10 64-bit is composed of a few additional security features that are not present in windows with a 32-bit version.
Let’s say for example 64 bit versions of windows need that device drivers be signed. Driver signature enforcement means that you can only use drivers that are recognized by Microsoft. This will help prevent malicious drivers to be installed in your system.
Security features
Security features such as driver signature enforcement are good but older computers might not be compatible fully with the 64bit.
The reason for this could be lacking proper security instructions at the CPU level.
The release of Windows 8 in 2012 introduced a new set of security requirements at the processor level.
The most unusual thing about these requirements is that some fairly recent and older CPUs might or might not include the extensions.
Other hardware considerations
Choosing which version to use between a 32-bit operating system and a 64-bit operating system depends on the type of the computer as well.
Although some Intel Atom Processors support 64-bit windows, the vast majority don’t meet the BIOS and chipset level requirements.
For a lot of netbooks, 64-bit windows are just awesome to be used even if you run it.
Netbooks were primarily made for content consumption and light productivity tasks ie web browsing, emailing, streaming, listening to music, editing pictures, etc.
For this case, a 32-bit Windows operating system if compatible should be used. You can always be sure to upgrade its memory or the storage SSD to improve its general performance.
Which one is the best; 32-bit or 64-bit?: final thought
To answer this question, many computer users prefer a 64-bit operating version. If you want to run software that needs some Graphic drivers, then a 64-bit operating system comes along with all these drivers.
Choosing a type of operating system whether that is 32-bit or 64 bit depends on various factors some of which we have seen above.
Your computer needs to be compatible with any of them for it to run smoothly. Older computers need to be upgraded for them to be compatible with the latest versions of the operating system.
Conclusion
Our choice is that we think a 64-bit version is better than a 32-bit version.
As we have seen, a 64-bit version of a Windows operating system comes with improved features such as a smart screen that will be able to detect viruses and Applications that might cause harm to your computer machine.
Also, a 64-bit machine with a memory capacity of at least 4GB RAM will improve the general performance and speed of your machine.
The last thing is that if you are a gaming addict, then a 64-bit machine will make your gaming very enjoyable because gaming in a 32-bit version will make you hate gaming forever.
Which one do you think is the best for you? Let’s hear from you in our comment section.
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