Resolved 32bit or 64bit windows for my mac ?

[pribl]

need to have windows on my macbook.

this is my configuration:
2.2GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
750GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

what windows I need to setup : 32bit or 64bit ?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

You can use both. What do you want to use Windows for and how do you want install it?
But if you want to use Windows via Boot Camp, go with 64-bit, as it can talk to more than 4GB of RAM.

 

[pribl]

ok, thanks !

 

[Kyzelios]

You'd definitely want to go with 64-bit Windows on a MacBook Pro with those specifications as it can handle over 4 GB of memory and with the quad-core Intel Core i7 processor you'll also see slightly better performance as well (under 64-bit).

There are other advantages as well; 64-bit Windows 7 is typically more stable and it's a bit more secure too.

Hope that helps, have a great day.

 

[terzinator]

just installed it using VMWare Fusion, and I went with 64-bit on my new MBP 15" (2.2 w/8GB RAM). Works great so far.

I allocated half the RAM to WIN7 and half to OSX.

 

[maflynn]

If you want to run windows in bootcamp, then go with 64bit especially if you want windows to have access to all your 8gb of ram.

If you plan on running windows in vmware/parallels I recommend the 32bit option. The increased overhead of 64bit os under a virtualized environment is not worth the ability to access more then 4gb of ram.

Mike

 

[terzinator]

I know it says this question is "resolved" but...

what do you mean by "increased overhead"?

I've read elsewhere that even using a virtualized machine, the 64-bit will run more efficiently and speedily and there's no downside...

So, what are the issues?

 

[maflynn]

I know it says this question is "resolved" but...

what do you mean by "increased overhead"?

I've read elsewhere that even using a virtualized machine, the 64-bit will run more efficiently and speedily and there's no downside...

So, what are the issues?

the increased overhead is from both windows managing larger data structures and VMware dealing with a 64bit OS. I asked this very question to VMware back when win7 was released and they stated that there's little benefit to running 64bit windows under vmware if you don't need access the ram. They mentioned it adds a bit of overhead from vmware and performance will be a bit slower, so you're not getting a lot of bang for your buck

 

[AFPoster]

If you install Windows as 64bit how can you install Microsoft Office 2010 as 32bit? It keeps placing office as 64bit.

 

[Derango]

If you install Windows as 64bit how can you install Microsoft Office 2010 as 32bit? It keeps placing office as 64bit.

Any particular reason why you'd want 32 bit office specifically?

 

[cvs]

Just to report that Win 7 x64 runs fine on the 2.2Ghz 15" MBP with Parallels 6.

I'll try and install Office 2010 and report any findings. I am guessing Office 64 is a good match for Win7 x64...