32bit to 64bit

[Fluxus]

IF I have a 32bit CPU installed in a mobo can I just change it and add a 64bit CPU with no problems? Do I have to reinstall windows?

[Enderman]

What CPU and what mobo?

[pwn_intended]

What CPU do you have? There aren't really many 32-bit only CPUs anymore....

 

Regardless of your CPU, to install 64 bit windows, you HAVE to do a full re-install.

[Ryujin2003]

2 minutes ago, Fluxus said:

IF I have a 32bit CPU installed in a mobo can I just change it and add a 64bit CPU with no problems? Do I have to reinstall windows?

It depends on the architecture. You make it sound design like you're using some legacy hardware. You're going to have to specify your hardware so we can give you a correct answer.

[Fluxus]

2 minutes ago, Enderman said:

What CPU and what mobo?

It's an old Core 2 Duo E7400 machine. I want to use it as a home theatre machine. I got a deal for a Q8200 so I'm wondering if I can just swop CPU's without having to reinstall windows.

[79wjd]

Just now, Fluxus said:

It's an old Core 2 Duo E7400 machine. I want to use it as a home theatre machine. I got a deal for a Q8200 so I'm wondering if I can just swop CPU's without having to reinstall windows.

The Q8200 can also run 32-bit windows. So you should be fine. (although there can sometimes be issues running an old-windows install with new hardware).

[pwn_intended]

2 minutes ago, Fluxus said:

It's an old Core 2 Duo E7400 machine. I want to use it as a home theatre machine. I got a deal for a Q8200 so I'm wondering if I can just swop CPU's without having to reinstall windows.

Swapping CPU's should work, but youll still have 32-bit. Switching between architectures REQUIRES a re-install. It cannot be "upgraded"

That being said, running 64-bit wont really change anything besides allowing you to have more than 4bg of ram.

[Sauron]

If the socket is the same it should work just fine. You may not need to reinstall windows, however if you don't you'll be running a 32 bit version of the OS regardless of what your cpu is capable of.

3 minutes ago, Fluxus said:

It's an old Core 2 Duo E7400 machine. I want to use it as a home theatre machine. I got a deal for a Q8200 so I'm wondering if I can just swop CPU's without having to reinstall windows.

With all of the above in mind, your current cpu is actually 64 bit as well. Not sure why you think otherwise.

[SLAYR]

2 minutes ago, Fluxus said:

It's an old Core 2 Duo E7400 machine. I want to use it as a home theatre machine. I got a deal for a Q8200 so I'm wondering if I can just swop CPU's without having to reinstall windows.

64 bit cpus can run 32 bit software.

 

Should work fine.

[Fluxus]

1 hour ago, Sauron said:

If the socket is the same it should work just fine. You may not need to reinstall windows, however if you don't you'll be running a 32 bit version of the OS regardless of what your cpu is capable of.

With all of the above in mind, your current cpu is actually 64 bit as well. Not sure why you think otherwise.

 

Oh shit, facepalm. I just found that out right now  I guess the previous owner of this machine did the same thing i wanna do. Thanks to all that helped.