Glazunov1 Glazunov1

Your advice sought: 64-bit WinXP or Win7

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Your advice sought: 64-bit WinXP or Win7

from Elemental Forums

I do want to get a computer at some point in the next year (probably a year away) that has 64-bit capability.  That's not an issue.  The question for me is, what advantages does Win7 offer over WinXP that go beyond a few apps that I already own separately?  Can Win7 manage memory better than WinXP?  Can it handle more RAM than WinXP?  Can it do serious, deep things that WinXP can't?  Or is it largely a case of a few free programs, a prettier taskbar, and Windows Touch?

83,111 views 33 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ARESIV, reply 25
If those improvements have been made, are they noticably to the end user? I personally doubt it, but that an opinion.
End of ARESIV's quote

Probably better to heed advice from people who have actually used the OS ...;)

Reply #27 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 26

Quoting ARESIV, reply 25If those improvements have been made, are they noticably to the end user? I personally doubt it, but that an opinion.


Probably better to heed advice from people who have actually used the OS ...
End of Jafo's quote

 

Yep. I got WinXP 64 bit free through my university back when I was a student, thought it would be amazing. I've never had so many problems finding software and drivers for that OS. You still can't get Microsoft Security Essentials for XP 64 bit. What could run on it ran very well, but since I upgraded to Windows 7 64 bit (through the same program), I haven't looked back. There is absolutely no reason to get XP 64 bit, for any reason.

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Reply #28 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Daiwa, reply 24
XP is limited to accessing 4MB of RAM max.  Win7 64-bit can access 8MB in Starter & Home Basic, 16MB in Home Premium, and up to 192MB for Pro & up.  Whether it's 'better managed' or not, I can't say.
End of Daiwa's quote

 

I've been interested in personally configuring my memory management since early QEMM.  Microsoft's OS have improved dramatically over the years in terms of how they auto-handle RAM (genuine multi-threading: it was a dream back when), but I think WinXP does a pretty good job of it.  Which is why I'm curious how it manages in Win7.

 

On another matter: so 64-bit drivers are lacking from third-party vendors for WinXP?  Because I'm not interested in Microsoft's own products that require it, and I've got a great firewall and anti-virus protection courtesy of Kaspersky.

Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Glazunov1, reply 28
I've been interested in personally configuring my memory management since early QEMM.
End of Glazunov1's quote

Oh heck....next it'll be a yearning for Dos4GW ....;p

You can safely leave Win 7 64 to the handling of GIGs of RAM ...whatever you throw at it.  Needing to handle extended ram beyond 640k kind of died out not a lot later than punch cards.

We're a couple of generations beyond QEMM and its brethren.  It's a new year/decade/century/millennium ...;)

Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Daiwa, reply 23
XP is limited to accessing 4MB of RAM max. Win7 64-bit can access 8MB in Starter & Home Basic, 16MB in Home Premium, and up to 192MB for Pro & up. Whether it's 'better managed' or not, I can't say.
End of Daiwa's quote

Multiply all of those by 1024 ....should be GB, not MB .... JAFOCHECK

 

The only hassle you may encounter is the mem limits of a 32bit proggy....whether it's in a 32bit OS or 64.

...or you simply get the appropriate proggy ver...;)

Reply #31 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 30
Multiply all of those by 1024 ....should be GB, not MB
End of Jafo's quote

M.  G.  From the same alphabet, man.  Crikey.  ;)

Thanks for the correction.

Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 24
Quoting Daiwa, reply 23XP is limited to accessing 4MB of RAM max

Well, that explains why my laptop is so slow.
End of Wizard1956's quote

You mean that was a typo?  Darn it, I went out and bought an additional 4MB for nothing :S

Reply #33 from Elemental Forums Top

We're a couple of generations beyond QEMM and its brethren.  It's a new year/decade/century/millennium ...;)
End of quote

 

Doesn't necessarily mean any later version of Windows necessarily reworked any particular element of the OS from the ground up.  Or that in some cases, the reworking was sufficient, or done without lengthy suits for plagiarism (that Microsoft lost).  But your point is taken.  A long enough time has past to retire that particular hobbyhorse.

 

Well, you've all pretty much convinced me of going to Win7 when the time comes, and we move our current rig into a second place.  Thanks for all the nuanced, calm advice. :)