64 Bit or 32 Bit?

[razorclaw123]

How do I chose what Bit version of windows/any software to have? Do I pick it on what my CPU is Bit based on? Or do I pick it on what Bit version my operating system currently is? please answer, and thank you 

[Jade]

During download it'll ask if you want a 32 bit (i386) or 64 bit (amd64 or x86_64) installation -- you pretty much only want 64bit nowadays, unless you're running on tiny systems. If you're running 64 bit, get 64 bit applications, if possible. If it's not offered, it's fine.

tl;dr:

32 bit can't run 64 bit stuff - also can only use 3GB of RAM.

64 bit can run both 64 and 32 bit applications, incredibly high limitations.

[Syntaxvgm]

Go to "System" int he control panel. It will tell you there. 

Almost all systems are running 64 operating bit these days, and you should use 64 bit unless it's a legacy system or something. 

Also, 32 bit windows can only use 4 GiBs of ram. 

[Sakkura]

Based on how much memory you have, and whether you have any old 16-bit programs you want to still be able to run (natively).

99.9% of the time you can just forget about all that and just go 64-bit.

[Hackentosher]

What cpu do you have and do you have more than 2GB of RAM?

[SImoHayha]

6 minutes ago, razorclaw123 said:

How do I chose what Bit version of windows/any software to have? Do I pick it on what my CPU is Bit based on? Or do I pick it on what Bit version my operating system currently is? please answer, and thank you 

64 bit is usually the best. 64 bit allows users to use more than 4gb of RAM. 64 bit is usually the best choice for the most part as most programs now a days use 64 bit. 

[_ASSASSIN_]

if you have a modern CPU, they are 64-bit. 64-bit operating systems are supposed to correspond with the chipset/CPU. 
Again if you are buying a new system, get a 64-bit OS. If this is for an older computer, you might need 32-bit.

[razorclaw123]

I know that 64 Bit is better by a ton, i'm asking how I can tell what Bit machine I have? Is it by the CPU I have or is it by the operating system? thanks!

[Syntaxvgm]

4 minutes ago, razorclaw123 said:

I know that 64 Bit is better by a ton, i'm asking how I can tell what Bit machine I have? Is it by the CPU I have or is it by the operating system? thanks!

Well, by the OS. I gave the instructions for windows above. BUT some older systems are simply not compatible. 

Find your CPU in Intel's "ark" or whatever the hell AMD has on their website and look under "instruction set"

http://ark.intel.com/products/52214/Intel-Core-i7-2600K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_80-GHz - i7-2600k

[razorclaw123]

13 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

Well, by the OS. I gave the instructions for windows above. BUT some older systems are simply not compatible. 

Find your CPU in Intel's ""ark or whatever the hell AMD has on their website and look under "instruction set"

http://ark.intel.com/products/52214/Intel-Core-i7-2600K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_80-GHz - i7-2600k

I see, so the type of CPU Bits you have effect if it could handle a 64 Bit OS or not. and i'm guessing by your first sentence that if you download a software with a 64 Bit workload, it would have to be compatible with a 64 Bit OS. If the OS isn't 64 Bit (which bases on the CPU) but the software is 64 Bit, it won't handle it. am I right? Appreciate the help!

[Syntaxvgm]

Just now, razorclaw123 said:

I see, so the type of CPU Bits you have effect if it could handle a 64 Bit OS or not. and i'm guessing by your first sentence that if you download a software with a 64 Bit workload, it would have to be compatible with a 64 Bit OS. If the OS isn't 64 Bit (which bases on the CPU) but the software is 64 Bit, it won't handle it. am I right? Appreciate the help!

You can install a 32 bit os on a CPU with a 64 bit instruction set, but not the other way around. 

[razorclaw123]

I know. Though If the OS isn't 64 Bit, but the CPU is. Would it handle a certain 64 Bit software?

[Dimwitted]

No! If you have a 32 bit O/S then you can only run 32 bit software. If you have a 64 bit O/S then you can run 64 and 32 bit software. Capische?

[razorclaw123]

3rd time saying this.. I know that. read my question again

[Sakkura]

20 minutes ago, razorclaw123 said:

I know. Though If the OS isn't 64 Bit, but the CPU is. Would it handle a certain 64 Bit software?

To run 64-bit software, both the CPU and the OS have to be 64-bit.

Any modern CPU is 64-bit, so it really only depends on the OS.

[razorclaw123]

Alright, that makes sense. Thanks everyone for helping! I appreciate it a lot!