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64bit, how to tell?

  • 06-05-2009 7:48pm
    #1
    JohnK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭


    Right then just a quick question here - is there any easy way to tell if my laptop is a 64bit or 32bit machine? I was just taking a look at GRC's Securable and its saying that its 64bit capable but when I bought it it came with 32bit windows and I dont remember any mention of 64bit at the time. Since I'm going to be putting Windows 7 RC on this soon I'd like to know if I can actually run the 64bit version before I go off and download the 3gb ISO.

    thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,758 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    JohnK wrote: »
    Right then just a quick question here - is there any easy way to tell if my laptop is a 64bit or 32bit machine? I was just taking a look at GRC's Securable and its saying that its 64bit capable but when I bought it it came with 32bit windows and I dont remember any mention of 64bit at the time. Since I'm going to be putting Windows 7 RC on this soon I'd like to know if I can actually run the 64bit version before I go off and download the 3gb ISO.

    thanks.

    What processor is it? Alternately run something like CPU-Z.


  • #3
    partyatmygaff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,992 ✭✭✭✭partyatmygaff


    Im pretty sure if it came with 32bit Vista it is a 64bit CPU, most CPUs from about mid-2006 onward are all 64 bit minus obvious budget or crippled CPUs


  • #4
    JohnK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭JohnK


    The CPU is an Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T7250. And I just ran that CPU-Z which lists the instructions as MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3 & EM64T. So that would mean 64bit right? I must admit I'm actually surprised it'd be a 64bit machine yet wasnt advertised as such. You'd have thought they would at least have had a sticker mentioning it or something.


  • #5
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,758 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    JohnK wrote: »
    The CPU is an Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T7250. And I just ran that CPU-Z which lists the instructions as MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3 & EM64T. So that would mean 64bit right? I must admit I'm actually surprised it'd be a 64bit machine yet wasnt advertised as such. You'd have thought they would at least have had a sticker mentioning it or something.

    Yes, EM64T is the Intel implementation of the AMD64 instruction set, though often referred to by the earlier name of x86-64.


  • #6
    JohnK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭JohnK


    Nice one, thanks :D


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  • #7
    Tea_Bag
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,983 ✭✭✭Tea_Bag


    My PC is 64 compatable, and i was going to install W7 32bit on it, is there good reason to install 64bit? I know of a RAM limitation on 32bit systems (?), but as i (only) have 1GB's of the stuff i assumed it would make no difference.. should i go and download W7 64bit and trash my 32bit?


  • #8
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,758 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    Tea_Bag wrote: »
    My PC is 64 compatable, and i was going to install W7 32bit on it, is there good reason to install 64bit? I know of a RAM limitation on 32bit systems (?), but as i (only) have 1GB's of the stuff i assumed it would make no difference.. should i go and download W7 64bit and trash my 32bit?

    32bit has no advantages over 64bit, only limitations.


  • #9
    Tea_Bag
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,983 ✭✭✭Tea_Bag


    Spear wrote: »
    32bit has no advantages over 64bit, only limitations.
    Would i have problems finding drivers for a 64bit OS though?


  • #10
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,758 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    Tea_Bag wrote: »
    Would i have problems finding drivers for a 64bit OS though?

    Not these days, to get Vista certification drivers must be provided for 64bit as well.


  • #11
    elyod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 176 ✭✭elyod


    Spear wrote: »
    Not these days, to get Vista certification drivers must be provided for 64bit as well.


    Finding 64bit drivers can still be a problem with certain hardware.

    Just research your hardware to make sure there are 64bit drivers available before installing a 64bit OS.

    Things like TV cards, external modems, VOIP devices, old internal/external sound cards etc.


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  • #12
    Tea_Bag
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,983 ✭✭✭Tea_Bag


    elyod wrote: »
    Finding 64bit drivers can still be a problem with certain hardware.

    Just research your hardware to make sure there are 64bit drivers available before installing a 64bit OS.

    Things like TV cards, external modems, VOIP devices, old internal/external sound cards etc.
    Thanks for the advice!!!
    Im gonna go through all my strange things to see if they might have probs with drivers before installing W7 64bit.. woo more time to procrastinate from my upcoming exams!


  • #13
    trout
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,957 ✭✭✭trout


    Good info on Intel cpu specs, from Intel ... can be found here

    Your CPU is a C2D / T7250 ... according to this chart it is a 64 bit CPU.

    Question - what 64 bit applications do you have? :)


  • #14
    elyod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 176 ✭✭elyod


    trout wrote: »
    Question - what 64 bit applications do you have? :)

    Shush now, don't be raining on peoples 64bit parade. They still have the delusion it's all cutting edge and stuff.


  • #15
    JohnK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭JohnK


    trout wrote: »
    Question - what 64 bit applications do you have? :)
    None :o

    But it'd be nice to get full use of the 4gb ram i have since I'm constantly running multiple virtual machines at the same time :D


  • #16
    Tea_Bag
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,983 ✭✭✭Tea_Bag


    Is the 64bit version any faster in any way than the 32bit? And are there different requirements to run 64bit, besides having a 64bit processor?


  • #17
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,758 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    Tea_Bag wrote: »
    Is the 64bit version any faster in any way than the 32bit? And are there different requirements to run 64bit, besides having a 64bit processor?

    No major speed difference, just some slight variation either way. Some apps benefit, some are penalised. There's no other requirements bar the 64bit processor.


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