Which Windows 7 Version (32 bit or 64 bit) should I install on a new MacBook Pro with 4 GB of RAM?

windows-7 macbook cpu-architecture

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Solution 1

No brainer: 64bit.

In addition to the ability to use more RAM and run 64bit apps, 64bit chips have other features the OS itself can use to get performance benefits that a 32bit OS won't know about. More registers, for example.

So even if 32bit Visual Studio is the only app you run, you're still better off running 64bit windows. Not to mention it gives you the ability to build 64bit apps.

Solution 2

While Visual Studio is 32 bit application, depending on what type of applications you're planning to develop, you might find it beneficial to use the 64-bit version. IIRC you can run and debug both 32-bit and 64-bit executables in 64-bit Windows but not in 32-bit Windows (as the latter isn't able to run 64-bit apps).

Solution 3

Visual Studio is a 32 bit application only, so if that is the major reason for installing windows, 64-bit will not give you any additional features, other than it will be able to handle all 4 GB of memory, whereas 32-bit will only give 3.2 GB or so.

See this question for details about general 32-bit vs 64 bit systems:

32-bit vs 64-bit systems

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HopelessN00b

Just another sad, but unremarkable tale of a bright kid who squandered his potential and ruined his life by turning to a life of IT. Since first embarking down this dark path, I've done a little bit of everything, from small businesses to large datacenters, Linux to Windows, networking and security, DBA roles and, in my darkest moments, even some light mainframe operations. These days it's Microsft products paying the bills, for what difference it makes. Whether it's a multi-domain AD environment with tens of thousands of users, a small cluster of Linux webservers, or a tangled web of network cables, systems are all just complex tools to do complex jobs, perpetually in need of someone to make them perform better and ensure they're always available when someone needs them. Since being a lawyer seemed to boring, being a doctor seemed to hard, and my idea of a good time usually involves using a powerful computer anyway, I really can't imagine doing anything else.

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

HopelessN00b over 1 year

I have just bought a brand new MacBook Pro with 4 GB RAM, and was wondering which Windows 7 version 32 bit or 64 bit I should install with BootCamp, in order to do Visual Studio development?

Is Visual Studio 32 bit? Any pointers to the correct install process would also be appreciated.
bastibe over 14 years

Definitly! I am using Win7 Pro x64 with MSVC 2k8 productively on my Macbook Pro, too.
Joel Coehoorn over 14 years

Good point, I hand't considered drivers. Good to hear it's a non-issue now.