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What determines if a computer is 32 or 64 bit?
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:16 pm
by Cheatmasterbw
In a computer, what determines if a computer is 32 bit or 64 bit? Is it the software (OS), the processor?
I was looking into processors, but can't determine if they were 32 or 64 bits, so I am curious if the software is what determines how many bits a computer has.
Re: What determines if a computer is 32 or 64 bit?
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:21 pm
by GoodGuy17
The operating system.
EDIT: Lol, now I feel stupid. I got my answer by Googling, and this time, Google failed me.
Another reason is that I simply bought my PC's parts, assembled, and installed 64-bit. I didn't know the CPU architecture really mattered at all.
Re: What determines if a computer is 32 or 64 bit?
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:27 pm
by CodenStuff
Its the processor.
Re: What determines if a computer is 32 or 64 bit?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:09 am
by comathi
CodenStuff wrote:Its the processor.
Indeed, the processor will determine which version of the OS and software you'll have to get. 64-bit or 32-bit is the amount of data that can be processed at a time.
Re: What determines if a computer is 32 or 64 bit?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:14 am
by kolega28
off topic: comathi come on chat!
on topic: the processor architecture depends on whether your pc is 64 bit or 32, to check in windows 7 go to your start menu, right click computer and select properties, then click the windows experience index then click the view and print detailed information and in that window it should say under the system group
Re: What determines if a computer is 32 or 64 bit?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:56 pm
by MrAksel
Its the processor architecture that decides whether your PC is 64 or 32 bit. You said the opposite :P Windows 7 is installed with the correct version according to your processor architecture.
Re: What determines if a computer is 32 or 64 bit?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:33 pm
by kolega28
aksel not always my processor is 64bit capable but it came with 32bit win 7 so i had to reinstall it to 64 bit