Windows 7 32-bit or Ubuntu 64-bit?

onipar

onipar

Member
I have built a new computer that has 8 gigs of RAM, and what I want to know is--given the memory limitations of Windows 7 32-bit--would it be better for me to install Ubuntu 64-bit so I can access the available memory.

*In case you're wondering: I have win 7 32 bit because it's the only version my college offers with the teacher discount (it only costs $6, and I am trying to save money), and I have 8 GB's of RAM because it cost the same as 4 GB's would have on Black Friday.

Thanks! Any advice is much appreciated. :D
 
You could install both and dual-boot - I'm assuming you already have Windows installed, so all you would need to do is install Linux (and not remove your Windows partitions), most distros set up dual-boot automatically. I still have Windows installed alongside Linux in case I ever need it, though I haven't booted into it for ages. But I would definitely recommend Ubuntu as the primary OS.
 
Do you need 8GB of RAM? If you do nothing that requires that amount of RAM then use whichever you prefer, even if that means 'wasting' 4GB of RAM. Knowing what you do with your computer/programs do you use will help people give you advice.
 
dug987654 said:
Do you need 8GB of RAM? If you do nothing that requires that amount of RAM then use whichever you prefer, even if that means 'wasting' 4GB of RAM. Knowing what you do with your computer/programs do you use will help people give you advice.
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well most people dont need 8GB ram, but they have it because they can have it:P

well id advise to get Ubuntu 64Bit. or go the illegal way for 64Bit Win7 but thats not really recommended as it can backfire really bad!
 
hackapelite, Nope, Win7 isn't installed yet. I just finished the build. But I do like the idea of the dual-boot. Sort of the best of both worlds I guess.

dug987654, like I said in my post, I have 8 gigs because it cost the same as 4 gigs on Black Friday. I was originally going to get 4 gigs, but I figured, "hell, for the same price, it makes no sense *not* to get the 8." The computer is for my parents. They will mostly be using it for basic stuff (internet, video, music, e-mail, small games), so no, never really using the full 8 gigs.

larsch, Ha...I have no idea what that means. :P Sorry, I'm very new to all this.

Thanks for the help so far. Any more advice is appreciated.
 
depends what which one you are going to use the most
if you use windows more by a lot i recamend that you install ubuntu inside a virtual machine if you use them equally then the best option is to dual boot
 
You could find a disc for windows 7 64-bit and use the same key. 32-bit and 64-bit do not have specific keys for the versions. But do this legally, do not download windows from a 3rd party website.
 
claptonman said:
You could find a disc for windows 7 64-bit and use the same key. 32-bit and 64-bit do not have specific keys for the versions. But do this legally, do not download windows from a 3rd party website.
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Thanks. Yeah, I currently have my brother asking around his job (he's a web designer) if anyone can loan us the disk.
 
A ramdisk works like a harddrive, but stores your files in ram (even the pagefile). It can make use of ram above 4GB, which 32bit Windows denies access to.
 
larsch said:
A ramdisk works like a harddrive, but stores your files in ram (even the pagefile). It can make use of ram above 4GB, which 32bit Windows denies access to.
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Oh, that sounds like a good way to use some of that extra RAM. I'll have to do a bit of research on that. Thanks.
 
Okay, I did a bit of research on the Ramdisk and found this program to use. I also watched a video on how to store the pagefile in the ramdisk. It seems simple enough, and I guess it sounds like a good way to make use of the extra ram, while also speeding up the computer.

Other than creating the pagefile on the ramdisk, is there anything else I should do to it?

Are there any cons to this I should know about?

Thanks, I like this idea.
 
larsch said:
It is technical possible, but there is always a risk to executing such exefiles.
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Yeah, I actually asked my IT guy at the college about it today, and he seemed to think there was little reason to do it. Something about how the pagefile uses virtual memory anyway...I didn't completely follow what he was saying to be honest.

Frankly, being so new at this, I've decided to go easy. Someone on the Microsoft windows forum posted a link to download the .iso file I need for the 64 bit version. SO I'll try that. If it doesn't work, I'll probably just install ubuntu and call it quites. My parents won't know the difference, and they don't game or use any particular Microsoft program anyway.

I truly appreciate everyone's help and feedback through this process. Thank you! :D
 
Page file is virtual memory on the drive. If it wasnt for page file on the drive and your system ran out of main memory, it would come to a screeching halt, well pretty slow. Even though the virtual memory is on the harddrive and is slower then your main memory, if your OS/program ran out of system memory without a page file it would really slow down. Page file has become less important as computers starting using more system memory. The average system now has 4 to 8gb. of system memory. Years ago computers had alot less and page file came into play alot more. In simple terms its space on the harddrive that is used as system memory, hence virtual memory. Page file does not let your system use more system memory if your limited because you have a 32bit OS.
 
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Ah ha, got it. Thank you for explaining that to me. :) I've really enjoyed this whole process of building my first computer. I learned so much doing this, and I'm sort of itching to do it all over again. :cool:

StrangleHold said:
Page file is virtual memory on the drive. If it wasnt for page file on the drive and your system ran out of main memory, it would come to a screeching halt, well pretty slow. Even though the virtual memory is on the harddrive and is slower then your main memory, if your OS/program ran out of system memory without a page file it would really slow down. Page file has become less important as computers starting using more system memory. The average system now has 4 to 8gb. of system memory. Years ago computers had alot less and page file came into play alot more. In simple terms its space on the harddrive that is used as system memory, hence virtual memory.
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dug987654 said:
Do you need 8GB of RAM? If you do nothing that requires that amount of RAM then use whichever you prefer, even if that means 'wasting' 4GB of RAM.
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Of course he does not need that much lmao.Nobody does.Unless if he is a game developer who develops and compiles tons of things and runs 10 big games and many programs all in the same time lmao!
But I am pretty sure he does not do that :D Nobody isn't that crazy lol.Not even me xD

Raz3rD said:
well most people dont need 8GB ram, but they have it because they can have it:P
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Lucky them.I have only 512 MB of RAM hahaha!!!Still I do tons of things and always manage to find a way to make everything working fine under just 512 MB of RAM so God knows when I am gonna upgrade xD
 
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