RAM usage is nearly the same on start but once all ten websites were fully loaded it was apparent that the 64-bit version of Firefox used way more RAM than the 32-bit version. In addition, it did not freeze while running the RoboHornet benchmark while Google Chrome did. Every other browser experienced at least one freeze while running the benchmarks.Īnother interesting observation is that Vivaldi outperforms Google Chrome in some benchmarks and with RAM usage even though it is still a beta release. The only two browsers that ran all tests without freezes or hangs were Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge. Google Chrome did not completeÂ the RoboHornet and Dromaeo benchmarks, Pale Moon froze while running the JetStream benchmark, and Vivaldi froze running the Dromaeo benchmark. One surprising result of the tests that I ran was that hangs were experienced quite frequently. The benchmarks test the browser's JavaScript performance. While RAM usage is not that much of an issue anymore on modern systems that come equipped with 4 Gigabyte of RAM or more, it needs to be considered that the browser is just one of the programs run on a system and that a high RAM usage may result in performance drops if other demanding applications are run. If you need to run 32-bit Firefox or manually install 64-bit Firefox, you can simply download and re-run the Windows (32-bit or 64-bit) Firefox installer from the Firefox platforms and languages download page.The first two tests highlight the browser's RAM usage. You can still manually install 64-bit Firefox, if you choose. If you see “(32-bit)” and are running Firefox 56.0.1 or newer, then your computer may not meet the minimum memory requirement for 64-bit (3 GB RAM or more).If you see “(32-bit)” and you are running Firefox 56.0 or older, updating to the latest Firefox version should automatically upgrade you to 64-bit.Check your Firefox version (in the “About Firefox” window) and look for “(32-bit)” or “(64-bit)” after the version number: If you’re running 64-bit Windows ( here’s how to check), your Firefox may already be 64-bit. Linux and macOS users, fret not, you already enjoy a Firefox that’s optimized for 64-bit. Also, with the jump from 32 to 64 bits, a security feature called Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) works better to protect you from attackers.

Here’s the key thing to know: 64-bit applications can access more memory and are less likely to crash than 32-bit applications. What’s the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit? How much less? In our tests so far, 64-bit Firefox reduced crashes by 39% on machines with 4GB of RAM or more. That means you get a more secure version of Firefox, one that also crashes a whole lot less. Users on 64-bit Windows who download Firefox can get our 64-bit version by default.

Is firefox 40.0.3 64 bit