32-bit Office vs. 64-bit Office

[Turbonium]

What's the difference, practically speaking? I'm assuming the 64-bit version runs a bit faster, but is it noticeable?

The reason I ask is that I recently installed the 32-bit version of Office 2010 on my dad's new PC (it's the only legitimate copy I had access to), and I'm wondering if it comes with any particular disadvantages when compared to its 64-bit alternative.

[seepy83]

You actually might find, as of right now, that the opposite is true...that the 64-bit version has some disadvantages when compared to 32-bit.

I can't speak for speed or performance, but we're talking about Office applications here...and they aren't terribly demanding of memory resources.

But as far as compatibility is concerned, if you're trying to use any 3rd party add-ins, you'll find that most of them are only compatible with the 32-bit version.

I don't recall the exact text, but the 64-bit installer actually throws up a warning before installation saying something along the lines of "Are you sure you want to install 64-bit office? Because it's really new and not compatible with a lot of stuff, and we really recommend you install 32-bit unless you require 64-bit for some reason."

[theevilsharpie]

Originally Posted by Turbonium

What's the difference, practically speaking? I'm assuming the 64-bit version runs a bit faster, but is it noticeable?

The 64-bit version of Office can open files larger than 2GB.

[postmortemIA]

Originally Posted by theevilsharpie

The 64-bit version of Office can open files larger than 2GB.

But it cannot use any 32-bit extensions, as 64-bit binaries must use exclusively 64-bit DLLs.

[cl-scott]

Basically unless you have some truly massive Excel spreadsheets or especially large Access databases, there is no real benefit to a 64-bit version of Office. Probably very little in the way of drawbacks as well, unless you use third party extensions.

[Chiefcrowe]

I've had one problem with an addon not working right, so I decided to go with 32bit.

[xSauronx]

64 bit may not be supported by add ons or plugins or, if youre in an enterprise environment, all of your software (even other ms software, depending on the update level of other apps)

my uni wont even support the 64 bit version for students.

[kleinkinstein]

Originally Posted by theevilsharpie

The 64-bit version of Office can open files larger than 2GB.

Seriously? Either way, that's funny!

[postmortemIA]

Originally Posted by kleinkinstein

Seriously? Either way, that's funny!

2003 and older Excel had limitation of 65536 rows and 256 columns ...

[ImDonly1]

Originally Posted by Turbonium

What's the difference, practically speaking? I'm assuming the 64-bit version runs a bit faster, but is it noticeable?

The reason I ask is that I recently installed the 32-bit version of Office 2010 on my dad's new PC (it's the only legitimate copy I had access to), and I'm wondering if it comes with any particular disadvantages when compared to its 64-bit alternative.

Valid question. I thought the same thing when installing the new office.

Even microsoft on their office website states you should install 32-bit office, unless you know what you are doing and are sure you need 64-bit office. This is mostly because of the plugin support for 64-bit office.

Stay with the 32-bit, you installed the right version.

[GrumpyMan]

We tried 64bit Excel at the office but had to go with 32bit due to ASAP utilities not working with it. It's a collection of 300 macros for Excel which we use extensively everyday. Even MS recommends going to 32bit unless of course working with huge databases.

[mark.stewart]

Originally Posted by Turbonium

What's the difference, practically speaking? I'm assuming the 64-bit version runs a bit faster, but is it noticeable?

The reason I ask is that I recently installed the 32-bit version of Office 2010 on my dad's new PC (it's the only legitimate copy I had access to), and I'm wondering if it comes with any particular disadvantages when compared to its 64-bit alternative.

This post is somewhat dated (we are on to Office Cloud 2013), but this post is middle of Google's first page for the Microsoft inspired question of the century: "32-bit or 64-bit version of Office?"

First up, you did not mention if your father was using 32-bit or 64-bit Windows, Mac or Linux (all or which are Office 2013 friendly). Assume your father is running a 64-bit OS.

For every 64-bit system, 64-bit Office will run much faster.

Memory-hog Office 32-bit apps latch onto the breast of the OS and attempt to force out contenders for a rigidly fixed mere 2.37 GB memory limit. 32-bit circus apps even squabble with each other! As everyone knows, be careful you work one app at a time running old 32-bit Suites of anything, especially of Microsoft Office. Expect daily system crashes.

64-bit apps are not hog-nipple suckers. Microsoft Office 64-bit apps on today's standard 16 GB to 32 GB laptops and desktops have plenty of memory that they interactively cache. Say no more there!

Now comes the REAL PROBLEM: MICROSOFT (no comment on grunt camp D.O.D. "anti-terror interventions" here). Microsoft Corporation has invested billions of dollars of revenue stream in a now outdated and increasingly finite 32-bit fish puddle. To the effect that brazen programmers in TechNet boasted of 64-bit Office release, that they have no problem writing SharePoint apps to intercept 64-bit transactions and "nail them down, ha-ha-ha" with force-fed 32-bit Access and Excel runtimes. While you are enjoying your 64-bit efficiency, NEVER ENJOY clicking on one of those COM popups that insist you click to continue. Task Manager is always awake on my home desktop!

Microsoft has no intention to contain the delinquents it harbors, for now. Microsoft wants to "save money". For large corporations, this is really no problem. For example, our Region 3 Health Care node enables state and provincial Health Authorities to run backbone background Microsoft ("Thug") supported 32-bit mainframes to host 64-bit user terminals. This is critical! Nobody wants their father to die because a nursing station terminal was in crash mode again, so doctors guessed at the wrong medication...

For kids setting up Office on father's home computer, the 32-bit vs 64-bit question is easily answered, and its answer depends on your father's computer sophistication. "Thug" is the term shared with me by a Senior Systems Administrator round Node 3 healthcare: Microsoft will seriously be "working" through various billion dollar reservoirs of redundancy, be working hard to Thug you out on Office 64-bit platforms. No problems, if you know how to dodge redundant popups, including WINDOWS UPDATE popups! Otherwise, okay 'safe': do what the Thug says, and install 32-bit Office... until the lost cow (pig, or whatever you want to call it, as it struggles to remain competitive and ...) makes its way home.

...I run 64-bit Office Cloud 2013 at home. Microsoft is "using" my "experience": popup interventions get steadily more creative, weekdays. Chew on that! We luv u Microsoft. LOL

[sad_guy]

^wat

[smakme7757]

I use 64bit as i don't use addons. So if i for some reason get a malicious addon it won't install as it's most likely written for the 32bit version.

[luv2liv]

i havent installed office 2010.

but i can tell you my office 97 is ridiculous fast. any word or excel doc open almost instantly. i dont even see any splash screen/logo. i believe office 97 is only available in 32bit flavor)