If you’ve gone PC shopping lately, you’ve probably noticed more
computers with 64-bit processors, and you may have wondered what advantages they
offer.
Put simply, a 64-bit PC can handle larger amounts of information than
a 32-bit system. Since it can use more RAM—4 GB and up—a 64-bit computer can be
more responsive when you're running lots of programs at once.
Which should you buy? If you tend to have a lot of programs open
simultaneously or need to switch frequently between programs—or if you just
want to be sure your PC can take advantage of the larger amounts of memory
available today—64-bit is a great choice. If you run only one or two programs
at a time or have older hardware and software that isn't supported by a 64-bit
PC, a 32-bit system is a good choice.
Whether you choose the 32-bit or the 64-bit system, Windows 7 is
ready.
If you want to run
Windows 7 Professional on your PC, here's what it takes:
If you want to run
Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:
1 gigahertz (GHz) or
faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1 gigabyte (GB) RAM
(32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
16 GB available hard
disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics
device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Additional
requirements to use certain features:
Internet access (fees
may apply)
Depending on
resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics
hardware
For some Windows
Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
Windows Touch and
Tablet PCs require specific hardware
HomeGroup requires a
network and PCs running Windows 7
DVD/CD authoring
requires a compatible optical drive
Windows XP Mode
requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk
space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or
AMD-V turned on
Music and sound
require audio output
Product functionality
and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may
require advanced or additional hardware.
