Windows 7 question for SL

My husband ordered us both the new upgrade to Vista called Windows 7 the other day. Before he ordered it he went online at Microsoft and used some tool they have to check if the computer in question can run it. It seems mine will run it both in 32bit and 64bit mode. In order to install it in 64bit mode he will have to do a clean install on my computer however. I read in another thread someone was having problems with drivers, especially the NVIDIA drivers for SL.

My question is... has anyone else who uses the 64bit version of Windows 7 had problems with their NVIDIA drivers and will I also likely have problems if I go to the 64bit version? I am using a 10 month old Dell XPS 420 with the following specs:

Dueo Core E6850 processor
4 Gig RAM
NVIDIA Gforce 9800GT video card
Vista Home Premium 32bit version OS

Another question is... would it mater with regards to SL if I used Windows 7 in 32bit or 64bit mode? In other words would either 32 bit or 64bit mode run SL better/faster? My husband hates SL and doesn’t know or want to know anything about it so its pretty much up to me to decide which instillation he does when it arrives. Thanks for any help with this.

With 64-bit Windows, your system will use the full 4 GB memory, and it will also use the CPU more efficiently. Combined with the lower overhead that Windows 7 uses compared to Vista, you should see a performance boost.

The drivers from Dell might not work with SL. Go directly to Nvidia's web site and download the current Windows 7 driver and you should not have a problem.

Using 64bit Win 7 and no issues at all works awsome so much better then vista in every aspect

Use Nvidia drivers no issues at all

With a new OS install always best to do clean install

32 bits means you can linearly address 4 GBs of RAM. There is a block of this that is used for the system and not RAM address and the basic rule of thumb is that 32 bit Windows can use 3 GB max. It is actually more but it gets to splitting hairs here. The point is, you will not be able to use all of your RAM. Most of it will be used but not all.

I do not have experience with Win 7. I usually wait for the first service pack before upgrading to a new version of just about anything, but I have heard good things about Win 7. Vista does have a few problems running 64 bit mode. What I see the most of is opening zipped files show as corrupt way too often. Wheather or not Win 7 will have similar problems I do not know. Video drivers, however, I have not had a bit of problems with on the 64 bit version.

As it is right now, the 32 bit version will be easier to maintain but you are already maxing out the hardware it can handle.in two more years I think you will be tight on memory. It is a tough choice here. My advice would have been to wait until spring (so othre people can find the bugs and compatability problems first) and then get the 64 bit version. You do not get to wait tho. So ....

Go with the 64 bit version. Software will out grow the 32 bit version before you will be replacing your current computer.

Thank you for your kind responses. Seems the consensus is 64bit and drivers from NIVIDA so that it is, when Windows 7 arrives.