If you are itching to build or buy a new system for the upcoming Windows 7, or if you already have one and want to give it a performance boost, then you should definitely be considering 64-bit. It surprises me a little that people still install 32-bit operating systems, but even an admitted 64-bit fanboy like myself will confess that there are hardware compatibility issues with the platform. However, things have changed quite a bit since the 64-bit dark ages and now just about every piece of new hardware is compatible. Just make sure that you check the boxes to ensure that whatever you buy is supported.

Before you make the jump, it is important to check that all of your peripherals have the appropriate drivers. Most printers should be supported, the deal-breakers tend to be sound cards (they don’t even have to be very old), some gaming mice and the biggest offender – USB wireless cards. I have been stung twice with purchases that I did not properly research (because the instructions were in Japanese). It does happen, and not just with legacy hardware. You need to be careful with your hardware purchases.

As far as processing goes, a 64-bit processor can handle calculations significantly faster than it’s 32-bit equivalent. This point, however, is rendered moot if the software does not support 64-bit processing and a lot of it doesn’t. I have never encountered problems running 32-bit software, however, if you want to use older programs then you might encounter some issues.

At the moment most software is written in 32-bit, but that is going to change and it is a pretty safe bet that it is going to change soon. Adobe has already announced a 64-bit version of their next Creative Suite and others will follow, but the lack of supported software need not influence your decision, because regardless of the software that you run, your system will benefit from making the jump.

The biggest selling point for 64-bit is the ability to handle 4GB or more of RAM. As I have explained in here before, 32-bit systems can only support up to 4GB of RAM, whereas 64-bit systems will allow you to install any amount. With Samsung’s recent memory technology developments, we are probably going to start seeing 8GB and 16GB DDR3 in the not too distant future and now that even DDR3 prices are getting to what could almost be considered dirt cheap, it makes little sense to purchase less than 4GB. Higher amounts of RAM provide some enormous potential benefits for a system, especially when multi-tasking. You can have more programs open without your system slowing down.

If you haven’t tried out 64-bit and have a system with a dual-core or above processor then Windows 7 provides a very nice platform on which to make the transition.