64bit CPU

[Potatoman]

How do i know if i have a 64bit CPU? Its a Pentium Dual Core 3Ghz. If it is 64bit, should i be using XP 64? Thanks PM.

[thegamer]

go to start click left mouse button point mouse at "my computer" right click mouse move down to properties so it highlights then left click and up will pop a window with all your computer details.

hope that helps

thegamer

[fo3nix]

I wouldn't recommend using XP64, no. 64-bit isn't quite the amazing thing some people think it can be (some think it'll double your speed, which it won't). The problem is that everything has to be built around a 64bit architecture, which is why you need a 64bit OS like XP64. Microsoft haven't done a great job on it though, and will be dropping it soon enough once Vista is out anyway with its own 64bit implementation.

Currently some of the GNU/Linux distributions like Ubuntu do a much better job of 64bit computing than XP does.

One of the main problems is that you need all your drivers and everything to be 64bit too, if you're going to get anything out of it. XP64 driver support is, as I understand it, not the best (certainly not like XP32). And I haven't seen that many apps being phased over to a 64bit architecture either.

[j2buttonsw]

Why? IMO, you will have a 64 bit OS running 32 bit apps

[peanut]

Potatoman,
No you do not need a 64 bit os to go with a 64 bit processor. If you do run 64 bit, you will still be able to run several 32 bit apps but not all of them. Be careful because not all hardware and periferals will work. My system is all 64 bit and my HP printer will not work with it because HP wont design 64 bit drivers for it. So i need to print from my dell computer.

j2buttonsw,
64 bit windows will run some but not all 32 bit apps. more will work than not work. Ive had 64 bit for 8 months and other than my printer and windows media player 11 not working, its been fine for me.

[fo3nix]

peanut: why are you on 64bit anyway then? What are you getting out of it that 32bit windows can't do?

[peanut]

It is actually noticibly faster than 32 bit. definitely not twice as fast like many people may think. I have a dell running 32 bit and my home built system at 64 bit.