64 Bit -Allows for more "Business/Enterprise" solutions -Allows 4GB+ Ram to be uses -Great for Servers However, you may find problems for older software although that can't be said for new applications as more software companies design products for both 32 and 64 bit architectures.
New processors fully support 64bit OS. Almost all Core2 support 64bit. Take a look for specifications on intel website
No you cannot run a 64 bit OS on a 32 bit processor. But the reverse is true that you can run a 32 bit OS on a 64 bit processor (as most of the 64 bit processors available now is the x64 processors which support both 32 bit and 64 bit OSes). Once you upgrade to a 64 bit OS (obviously on a x64 processor), you can install most of the 32 Bit applications too because the 32 bit applications work on a x64 OS/x64 processor on a simulation mode. But none of the 32 bit drivers will work on a x64 OS. That means if you have a printer that only has 32 bit drivers, then you cannot install that on a x64 OS (like the Windows 7 64 bit OS). That is because the 32 bit simulation does not work with the kernel drivers (it work only with the 32 bit applications which do not have kernel drivers). Intel has both x64 Processors and Itanium processors. The x64 Processors support both 32 and 64 it OSses. But the Itanium processor is a pure 64 bit processor which strictly supports only 64 bit OSes. Good thing is that the Itanium processor is srtictly a server processor.
I am using 32 bit version because with 64 bit i have too much problems - not every aplication work on it, hardware problems. Regards
32-bit processors, meaning that they can process 32 binary instructions per clock cycle. 64-bit systems can process twice as many instructions per second as a comparable 32-bit system, 64-bit systems are definitely faster than their 32-bit. The most significant difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit system is the amount of memory that they support. The fact that 32-bit systems only have 32-bits of data to work with means that they can only address up to 4 GB of RAM. On the other hand 64-bit system could theoretically address up to 16 exabytes of RAM (16,000,000 GB of RAM).
OK... heres an update. Since I can get a HUGE HUGE discount on software through my college, I went ahead and purchase the 64bit. It wont be the first and it won't be the last time that I just blow money away. So, I just took a chance. Anyways, I installed Win 7 64bit and its been working just fine for me more than a month and half now. Below, is some detail info on my processor. As far as I can tell, its not 64bit processor, but I wanted to get some of yalls opinions.
32 bit allows you to use only 3.5 Gb of your memory and thats the limit, 64 bit for now is approved for systems with 4+ Gb memory