I'm about to install Win7 on a reasonably new computer. 4G memory 3Ghz Pentium. I don't plan on installing more memory unless I have to, really want to upgrade as little software as possible, and speed with WinXP 32bit doesn't seem to be a problem. I plan on keeping an XP computer to handle plotting to an Designjet 430 and transferring data with my RECON.
Primary CAD program is Terramodel, which I understand will run under 32 or 64 bit. AutoCAD LT 2000 is going to be a problem, as are some other older programs, I understand.
Is there any compelling reason to install the 64bit version? Does the 32bit Win7 run more programs without upgrading and will it probably be satisfactory with 4G memory?
Thanks from a Win7 noob.
32-bit Windows is a total waste unless you have an old 32-bit only CPU. If you have a 64-bit CPU, install the 64-bit version. It's *MUCH* better.
should you decide to upgrade the ram above 4gb, you will need 64 bit. i would recommend ram.
Better? Better for what. Do you need an indy car to drive you crew out to a job in the woods?
Well one reason to stick with 32 bit is that a hell of a lot of legacy software won't run or sometimes even install on 64bit versions. So unless you really undersand all the implications and might even need to start over and bear the time and costs of working all that out you might want to not take that leap.
I suppose we will all be forced into it eventually.
Remember not everyone's legacy software is like yours nor the pocketbooks equal in size.
I doubt that the performance increase is that significant for many things. It may be for a few, but from what I have seen over the years with the super fast CPU clockspeeds these days things are often pretty fast even on newer 32 bit hardware and O/S. It doesn't bother me to wait another 3 milliseconds.
But I don't know I suppose having the snappy speed may seem worth it, if you can afford all the upgrade woes. Not everyone needs to.
There are plenty of functioning surveyors on here who probably still use old old versions of software and CAD and even least squares that work just fine.
All I am saying is the 'Mileage varies'. The decision to stay with 32 bit software is not universally ludicrous as your post might suggest.
- jlw old guy talk i guess
PS, no there is not necessarily a 'compelling reason' but you do have to evaluate based on your specifics.
I am not sure you can install win7 on a 386-20 or a 486. So when did we first gert 32 bit CPU's? We have only had the scourge of the 64 bit O/S for a year or two.
I sort of hear the faint echos of 'planned obsolescence' in my addled brain. Sure it isn't true.
Productivity depends on many factors including functionality, knowing and understanding and competence in useing the tools you have. Looking to what can be improved, a cost/benefit calculation. And a very real part of that is big learning curves.
> Is there any compelling reason to install the 64bit version?
Turn it around. If your hardware has 64x architecture, there is no compelling reason to install the 32x operating system. Go ahead with the 64x. You may decide to install more RAM later. In fact, with the 32x, you won't even be using the full 4Gb you have now.
>Does the 32bit Win7 run more programs without upgrading and will it probably be satisfactory with 4G memory?
It isn't the 64 bit part that complicates the use of old programs. It's the WIN7 part.
> It isn't the 64 bit part that complicates the use of old programs. It's the WIN7 part.
A few old DOS vintage Trimble utilities I've had to run under Windows Virtual PC in Windows XP mode included free with Windows 7 Professional. No extra activation is required for the version of Windows XP that runs in the Virtual machine. Running them is even transparent (they appear to be running on the Windows 7 desktop as if they were native to it) except when a COM port is involved that is otherwise used for other things. Then the COM port does have to be assigned and deassigned to/from the virtual machine as needed, which is a minor annoyance.
The only programs I've run into that just plain cannot be run are old versions of video games that demand direct low level access to the video hardware.
We bumped to 6gb of ram, only because there's an "in house" insistance to place HUGE hi-res orthophotos behind every single drawing the engineers work on.
Check for drivers for you other gear, you may be able to find drivers for them by now since Win 7 has been out for "so long" now.
I've still got Terramodel running on Win 2000 pro, on a Pentium 4 machine, and it's still plenty fast for the projects I run on it! Then to, I don't attach half gigabyte orthophotos behind my work at the home office. 🙂
