32 bit os installation on 64 bit chip?

sweavesweave boston
edited September 2011 in Science & Tech
i just built a new computer for my friend with a core i5 2500k which is 64bit.
he went to his school computer shop and bought a copy of windows 7 for $8 and when he brought it for me to install it turned out to come with the 32 bit disc only.

his school it department said that there would be no difference.....

now i figure the os would install but with some compatibility issues that i would he rather avoid and just plonk down for a 64bit os.

any thoughts?

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2011
    It'll work fine. He won't be able to use more than 3.2GB of RAM, no matter how much he installs.
  • sweavesweave boston
    edited September 2011
    hmmm okay. i thought it was 3.5ish though.
  • shwaipshwaip bluffin' with my muffin Icrontian
    edited September 2011
    Depends on the motherboard and amount of address space that is being used by assorted hardware.

    To be honest, I'd suggest just getting the 64 bit cd - if he wants to upgrade to 8gb of ram at a later date, then he won't need a complete reinstall.
  • Rob-MerrittRob-Merritt
    edited September 2011
    I do it at work all the time because we still have software that won't run on a 64bit os. grumble grumble grumble
  • sweavesweave boston
    edited September 2011
    i can see pros and cons for it
    on one hand he isn't a power user and wont need more than 4gigs of ram installed. and also he has a lot of items that don't have 64bit driver support.

    on the other hand i would have to do the reinstall for him at a later date if he did get a 64bit cd later
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