After a slow beginning, a larger number of computers are using 64-bit version of Windows 7, and OS will shortly become norm as users shift to 64-bit computing, Microsoft said.

About 46 percent of PCs universal are running a 64-bit edition of Windows 7, said Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc in a blog entry, citing data collected by corporation in June. That evaluate positively to its predecessor, Windows Vista 64-bit, which was installed on only 11 percent of PCs universal more than three years after its release.

A larger number of PC creators are installing 64-bit Windows 7 as the defaulting OS on PCs, LeBlanc wrote. Majorities PCs contain processors capable of running on 64-bit applications that can as well address larger amounts of memory. The memory ceiling for 32-bit operating systems is 4GB, which might edge the ability to run computing-intensive applications that require larger memory sizes.

"The value of memory has dropped more last some years making it simpler for OEMs to up the amount of memory in PCs they dispatch," LeBlanc wrote.

Chip creators Advanced Micro Devices and Intel introduced 64-bit x86 chips lots of years ago for client PCs, after which Microsoft initial started presenting a 64-bit version of Windows XP, but acceptance was slow. At present, most of x86 chips are capable of running 64-bit applications.

A larger number of devices and applications are as well well-matched with 64-bit Windows 7, which has helped accelerate up adoption, LeBlanc said. The applications normally execute faster than their 32-bit counterparts, he said. The 64-bit Windows 7 is as well capable of running 32-bit applications.

As an evidence point of growing 64-bit adoption, LeBlanc pointed to a document on Intel's immigration to Windows 7, in which the chip creator said 64-bit OS provides more addressable memory and security advantages. Though, the chip creator in past has admitted facing migration challenges to Windows 7.