Upgrade to Win 7 x86 or x64

[khaverblad]

What is the general take when it comes to upgrade to Windows 7 on ThinkPad; should one pick the 32-bit or 64-bit version? Reading around most pros for the x64 version is that it said to be more stable and secure. Faster or not isn't really my concern since some apps will be slower and some faster if pure 64-bit version is available (and still often only slightly faster) and then there are older apps that won't work proper.

I've been running with a test installation of Win 7 x64 on a T60 (using T7200 CPU) and it works just fine. But, then again, the issue with software to support hardware that won't work proper; in my case for example Canon EOS digital that won't work.

What is the take here; let the mainstream go for x86 - even if the system can run x64 and leave the x64 to the few people that might need it?

[tinue]

On all the machines in my household, the deciding factor is only the amount of memory: With 4GB or more I install Win7 64, otherwise Win7 32.
On none of the machines do I have problems. The 32 bit machines are as stable as the 64 bit cousins, and the 64 bit machines do run all software that I have.
I could install 64 bit also on my 2GB machines, but I believe that 64 bit uses more disk space and slightly more RAM, so it is not worth it.
Regards, Martin

[khaverblad]

True x64 uses both more disk and RAM and this I can live with; the T60 I got has 4gb but only 3gb is available. My primary issues are older drivers that won't work within x64 that I assume would work in the x86 version. Guess I'll do a test installation of x86 to compare the usage of disk space and RAM.

[tinue]

My primary issues are older drivers that won't work within x64

I heard this a lot, but so far I always found a driver that worked in 64 bit. The only exception was an old scanner that I had to throw away, but this was in the Vista 64 days. I guess it depends on how old your peripheries are.
Regards, Martin

[yak]

I just yesterday moved from Windows 7 32-bit on a T60 (despite having a T7200 and 3GB RAM) to 64-bit on X200 (P8600, 4GB RAM). My only concern was an old HP printer which just refuses to die so I keep using it. Luckily, Windows Update had a 64-bit driver for it.

Everything works. No problems so far.

[jdhurst]

I have been running 64-bit, 7200-rpm hard drive, and 4Gb of RAM for a couple of years now. 64-bits runs rings around 32-bit. My T61p is 64-bit and my aging XP NetVista desktop is 32-bit. The dual processor 64-bit CPU is just faster and noticeably so.

I have taken the hit to upgrade to 64-bit / 64-bit compliant software and I will never again purchase a 32-bit machine or a 32-bit OS. The days of 32-bit are numbered and looking forward, 64-bit is the way we need to go.
... JDH

[khaverblad]

This is what I wanted to hear; I've been jumping to both side in my mind for a while to either go with x86 or x64 on my system. I'm running with a T60 (2007-FRG) that has a T7200 CPU, 4GB RAM and 80GB SDD. So it seems that I'll going to stick with the test installation I've done for a while more