32bit and 64 bit machines

[poymode]

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How can you know if you have a 32bit or 64bit machine?

Can a 32bit OS run on 64bit?

my proc is athlon 64 X2....does this mean it is 64 bit?

[poldopunk]

64-bit starts from the processor. for AMD, look for x64, for intel look for EM64T on the feature-sets. Then the requirements follows through the motherboard, after that 64-bit drivers for the devices in the motherboard and lastly, the operating system.

32-bit and 64-bit operating systems are 2 different operating systems, one cannot run the other but if we talk about 64-bit windows, it has the capability to run 32-bit applications.

if you're running 64-bit windows vista, you'll find in the task maanger applications with *32 which means the OS is emulating a 32-bit environment for the application BUT THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE the other way around.

the answers to your questions:

Can a 32bit OS run on 64bit?

its the other way around if you ask my opinion, most motherboards and processors are 32-bit but they have 64-bit support if you use a 64-bit OS.

my proc is athlon 64 X2....does this mean it is 64 bit?

yes, amd made the 64-bit support mainstream. anything with x64 for AMD.

[poymode]

thank for you the quick reply poldo...i added a question

my proc says athlon 64 x2..does this mean it is a 64bit machine?

that was fast..

another question.....im running vista 32bit only

is it better to run a 64bit system on a 64bit machine?

advantages, disadvantages?

[poldopunk]

i edited my reply. you're welcome.

**edit**

it is a 32-bit processor with 64-bit extension support which means, yes, it can be 32-bit or 64-bit. it all depends on the Operating System that you use.

[poldopunk]

thank for you the quick reply poldo...i added a question

my proc says athlon 64 x2..does this mean it is a 64bit machine?

that was fast..

another question.....im running vista 32bit only

is it better to run a 64bit system on a 64bit machine?

advantages, disadvantages?

the MAIN benefit of running 64-bit operating system is you're not limited to 3.5GB of RAM and it is the FUTURE .

If you have a memory lesser than 4GB, then 32-bit or 64-bit, it won't matter.

[poymode]

the MAIN benefit of running 64-bit operating system is you're not limited to 3.5GB of RAM and it is the FUTURE .

If you have a memory lesser than 4GB, then 32-bit or 64-bit, it won't matter.

so..basically...mas daghan lang masod if dakog ram..so mas paspas ang lihok2.

tenks!

[dubioz]

Yep, like Poldo says, that's the MAIN benefit.

If you can get 64 bit apps though, you will notice a significant improvement in the speed of your apps as compared to 32 bit versions even with less than 4GB RAM. Something about 64 bit handling memory better and not just bigger, don't ask me for details.

If all your apps are 32 bit, then it really shouldnt' be a concern for you. I use 64 bit mainly for 64 bit games that are far and few between, like FarCry and Halflife 2 and the only real app I use on 64 bit is Paint.NET. Make sure you install the latest 64 bit .NET framework if you use Paint.NET. Of course I also use the 64 bit equivalents of the usual free stuff like 7-Zip. Used SmartFTP also but had to downgrade to CoreFTP 32 bit when SmartFTP stopped offering the free version.

Saving my moolah for the latest Adobe CS. That will run 64 bit. Was going to get Elements but from what I read I'm not sure that's 64.

so..basically...mas daghan lang masod if dakog ram..so mas paspas ang lihok2.

tenks!

[Fern]

nga nu dili man mu detect ang 4 gig ram sa 32 bit OS? why does it only work sa 64 bit?

[poldopunk]

^ Coding Horror: Dude, Where's My 4 Gigabytes of RAM?

[tiger_yap8]

go for a SP1 Vista 32-bit.. it can detect 4GB =)