Windows 7 - x86 vs x64

Asked By db

21-Aug-09 11:09 AM

hello,

I have a question regarding
hardware.

recently, I was considering
upgrading from 32 bit to
64 bit vista and looked into
the alternate media aspect
of microsoft sales & replacements:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

I went to double check what
my system stated via system>
advanced>enviroment>
system variables>processor
id.

the line states x86 which implies
32 bit processor.

however, my processor is
actually a 64 bit quad core
on a compatiable mobo.

so the processor id should
state x64.

so why is there a difference
in what the properties state
to the cpu box I have in my
hand.

thanks for any fyi.



--
db???`?...?><)))?>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
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-  @Hotmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

21-Aug-09 04:19 PM

The correct way to identify your CPU is with the manufacturer's utility.

For Intel:
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/

I have no AMD CPUs on any of my systems, so I can only point you to amd.com

--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Windows Technologies  - Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows

21-Aug-09 04:44 PM

ok, thanks for the info.

I do not think I need a
utility to identify the
cpu because it even
has the number 64
etched on the chip.

the question I suppose
is, why is not Vista
recognizing it as a
x64?

I guess I recall something
or another that pertains
to some descrepencies
between windows and
amd.

thanks anyway for the
time to reply!

b.

--
db???`?...?><)))?>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
-  @Hotmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

21-Aug-09 11:35 PM

Make sure your motherboard has the latest BIOS.

To get Windows to recognize all four 'parts', go into Device Manager,
uninstall the CPU and then reboot.  Provided the BIOS recognizes it
correctly, Windows will reinstall the CPU correctly.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Windows Technologies  - Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows

22-Aug-09 09:32 AM

hmm?

that is an interesting suggestion.

I will give it go and let you kno

--
db???`?...?><)))?>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
-  @Hotmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

22-Aug-09 09:36 AM

I went to device manager
but there was no uninstall
available for the cpu only
update and properties.


--
db???`?...?><)))?>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
-  @Hotmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

22-Aug-09 11:51 AM

Click on Processors.... it should appear in the sub-menu.  Then on the
Processor itself (first one).... Now you should see Uninstall.  Do the same
for the second and reboot.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Windows Technologies  - Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows

22-Aug-09 06:15 PM

ah, I see it now.

I will give it a go again.

there are four drivers
under the processor.

but I uninstall them and
reboot.

--
db???`?...?><)))?>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
-  @Hotmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

22-Aug-09 06:30 PM

well, I uninstalled the
first entry and the pc
rebooted automatically,

then found new hardware
and rebooted again.

afterwards I uninstalled
the fourth processor and
was given the option to
reboot now or later.

so I uninstalled the third
processor and given the
option to reboot later again.

then I uninstalled the
second processor and the
system rebooted again.

after it came back up the
enviroment variable still
show x86.

I then reviewed the driver
properties for all four
processors and they all
are id'd as x86.

but your suggestion was
a good try.

I suppose I could edit the
enviroment variable and
change it to the appropriate
id for 64.

but it would not really mean
that windows validates the
chip as being x64 class.


--
db???`?...?><)))?>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
-  @Hotmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

25-Aug-09 03:39 PM

What you see there has nothing to do with a 32 or 64 bit system. x86 refers
to the Intel x86 CPU family which could also be 64-Bit CPU.
For more information see
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=x86&i=54979,00.asp

Many greetings from Germany

Oliver

26-Aug-09 09:53 AM

greetings from the US!

ok, thanks for the information.

so is it your opinion or in
your experience that if I
chose to run a 64 bit o.s.

I would not have any
problems?

----------

I am was just going by what the
kb from microsoft expressed.

that the determination to run
32 bit or 64 bit could be found
in that line entry under the
environment.



--
db???`?...?><)))?>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
-  @Hotmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

26-Aug-09 02:01 PM

This my opinion.
I have installed Windows Vista Ultimate as a 32bit installation (US Version)
on my PC and I also use a system similar to yours.
When I have a look at the System Environment variables I get the same result
as you got.

I am going for a 64Bit installation as soon as Windows 7 Upgrade Version is
available in Europe or US.
Unfortunately I need a US Version to upgrade my system. Otherwise the
upgrade will fail because the base system language is English.
it is rather difficult to get a US Version of a Windows OS in Germany.

Nevertheless, if a 64Bit OS should not run on this system (what I do not
belive), I bring it back where I bought it. Because in this case it is not
what the supplier had promised me.

27-Aug-09 05:53 AM

I see.

thanks for taking the time
to provide some help.

well, if you need me to
send you a box of win7

let me know.

--
db???`?...?><)))?>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
-  @Hotmail.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

23-Sep-09 08:16 AM

Wrong assumption.

x86 refers to Windows build being 32-bit not the processor.  If you have
Windows Vista 64-bit it will say AMD (since AMD was first to introduce the
64-bit extension in their processors.)

I know this because I am running Windows Vista 64-bit and I have Intel Core
2 Quad and the environment variable says AMD.

Hopefully, that clears up any confusion.