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Quick question on OS

Zero_Cool
Level 7

‎05-01-2013 08:42 AM - last edited on ‎03-06-2024 08:56 PM by Community Admin

I'm curious, for my new build should I spend the $200 on the retail version of Windows 7, or save some money and get the OEM version?
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xeromist
Moderator

‎05-01-2013 09:16 AM

The only difference is the licensing. Functionally they are identical. The retail version is "portable" meaning you can move it to a new computer while the OEM version is only good for the first computer you install it on. This gets a bit fuzzy for us enthusiasts since we tend to replace individual components rather than replacing a whole rig at once. Changes like a motherboard swap can cause Windows to deactivate but a call to Microsoft can usually straighten this out.

So it really comes down to how you intend to use it and ethics. When you call Microsoft to reactivate the automated system will ask you how many computers this copy of Windows has been installed on.

On a side note, if you intend to install more than 16GB of memory like some folks on this forum then you'll need to buy the Professional or Ultimate version. The Home Premium version only supports up to 16.
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HiVizMan
Level 40

‎05-01-2013 09:17 AM

I guess it is all up to what you are planning on doing with the system and how long you intend to keep the system. Or if you will ever change to Win8
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Zero_Cool
Level 7

‎05-01-2013 12:32 PM

Thanks for the info. I don't plan on changing my rig anytime soon and I rather doubt I'll be switching to Windows 8, I really don't like it. I'm only going with 16GB of RAM so I guess I'll stick with Home Premium.
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billyray520
Level 10

‎05-02-2013 05:52 AM

xeromist wrote:
On a side note, if you intend to install more than 16GB of memory like some folks on this forum then you'll need to buy the Professional or Ultimate version. The Home Premium version only supports up to 16.


That's interesting, I never knew that. 🙂
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HiVizMan
Level 40

‎05-02-2013 06:15 AM

Physical Memory Limits: Windows 8
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows 8.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64
Windows 8 Enterprise
4 GB
512 GB
Windows 8 Professional
4 GB
512 GB
Windows 8
4 GB
128 GB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Server 2012
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Server 2012. Windows Server 2012 is available only in X64 editions.
Version Limit on X64
Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
4 TB
Windows Server 2012 Standard
4 TB
Windows Server 2012 Essentials
64 GB
Windows Server 2012 Foundation
32 GB
Windows Storage Server 2012 Workgroup
32 GB
Windows Storage Server 2012 Standard
4 TB
Hyper-V Server 2012
4 TB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows 7
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows 7.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64
Windows 7 Ultimate
4 GB
192 GB
Windows 7 Enterprise
4 GB
192 GB
Windows 7 Professional
4 GB
192 GB
Windows 7 Home Premium
4 GB
16 GB
Windows 7 Home Basic
4 GB
8 GB
Windows 7 Starter
2 GB
N/A

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Server 2008 R2
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Server 2008 R2. Windows Server 2008 R2 is available only in 64-bit editions.
Version Limit on X64 Limit on IA64
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter
2 TB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
2 TB
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems
2 TB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation
8 GB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
32 GB
Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
128 GB
Windows Web Server 2008 R2
32 GB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Server 2008
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Server 2008. Limits greater than 4 GB for 32-bit Windows assume that PAE is enabled.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64 Limit on IA64
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
64 GB
1 TB
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
64 GB
1 TB
Windows Server 2008 HPC Edition
128 GB
Windows Server 2008 Standard
4 GB
32 GB
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems
2 TB
Windows Small Business Server 2008
4 GB
32 GB
Windows Web Server 2008
4 GB
32 GB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Vista
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Vista.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64
Windows Vista Ultimate
4 GB
128 GB
Windows Vista Enterprise
4 GB
128 GB
Windows Vista Business
4 GB
128 GB
Windows Vista Home Premium
4 GB
16 GB
Windows Vista Home Basic
4 GB
8 GB
Windows Vista Starter
1 GB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Home Server
Windows Home Server is available only in a 32-bit edition. The physical memory limit is 4 GB.
Physical Memory Limits: Windows Server 2003 R2
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Server 2003 R2. Limits over 4 GB for 32-bit Windows assume that PAE is enabled.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64
Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition
64 GB
(16 GB with 4GT)
1 TB
Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition
64 GB
(16 GB with 4GT)
1 TB
Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition
4 GB
32 GB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2). Limits over 4 GB for 32-bit Windows assume that PAE is enabled.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64 Limit on IA64
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2), Datacenter Edition
64 GB
(16 GB with 4GT)
1 TB
2 TB
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2), Enterprise Edition
64 GB
(16 GB with 4GT)
1 TB
2 TB
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2), Standard Edition
4 GB
32 GB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1)
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1). Limits over 4 GB for 32-bit Windows assume that PAE is enabled.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64 Limit on IA64
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Datacenter Edition
64 GB
(16 GB with 4GT)
X64 1 TB
1 TB
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Enterprise Edition
64 GB
(16 GB with 4GT)
X64 1 TB
1 TB
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), Standard Edition
4 GB
32 GB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Server 2003
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Server 2003. Limits over 4 GB for 32-bit Windows assume that PAE is enabled.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on IA64
Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
64 GB
(16 GB with 4GT)
512 GB
Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
64 GB
(16 GB with 4GT)
512 GB
Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
4 GB
Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
2 GB
Windows Small Business Server 2003
4 GB
Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003
32 GB
Windows Storage Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
8 GB
Windows Storage Server 2003
4 GB

Physical Memory Limits: Windows XP
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows XP.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64 Limit on IA64
Windows XP
4 GB
128 GB
128 GB (not supported)
Windows XP Starter Edition
512 MB
N/A
N/A

Physical Memory Limits: Windows Embedded
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows Embedded.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64
Windows XP Embedded
4 GB
Windows Embedded Standard 2009
4 GB
Windows Embedded Standard 7
4 GB
192 GB
To help us help you - please provide as much information about your system and the problem as possible.
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Adhy_Dharma_FN
Level 7
In response to HiVizMan

‎06-07-2013 07:07 PM

HiVizMan wrote:
Physical Memory Limits: Windows 8
The following table specifies the limits on physical memory for Windows 8.
Version Limit on X86 Limit on X64


Thanks for info, HiVizMan
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HiVizMan
Level 40

‎06-08-2013 01:46 AM

All good mate. I edited the post did not need that long quote yea. 🙂
To help us help you - please provide as much information about your system and the problem as possible.
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sectionate
Level 12

‎06-09-2013 12:41 PM

I'd get something other then home premium. I'm not sure how windows allocates your sticks of ram (16 gigs) and the ram of your gpu
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