How to find out how many bit system is? Bit depth of Windows XP: what it is and how to find out.

More recently, a note was published on the blog site to help those who are going to update their computer or buy / assemble a new one. Namely, it talked about how much RAM a computer needs, depending on the tasks that are set by the front ones: How much RAM do you need?

Our next note on the plan was an article about support for various amounts of memory from the operating system - about the bitness of the operating system; that not all memory sizes are supported by all versions of Windows. Special thanks to all readers who in the comments on the blog mentioned the topic of bit depth: after reading them, I realized that a short blog post on this topic is not enough. We need detailed material on this topic.

That is why it was decided to write an article (educational program, if you like) on this issue and post it here on ITexpertPortal.com - in an archive of free training materials and articles on important topics of computer literacy.

So, back to the main topic, to the bitness of operating systems and to support for various amounts of memory. First, let's answer the question:

What is bit depth in general?

Scientific definition: In computer science, the capacity of an electronic (in particular, peripheral) device or bus is the number of bits (bits) that are simultaneously processed by this device or transmitted by this bus. The term is applied to the constituent parts of computing, peripheral or measuring devices: data buses of computers, processors, etc. The bitness of a computer is called the bitness of its machine word. (source - Wikipedia).

I think everything is simple and clear. Bit depth - the ability to simultaneously process a certain number of bits, to put it simply.

In fact, everything is not so simple, and no article will be enough to fully cover this issue and "in a scientific way". Therefore, we will not delve into the course of PC architecture, but will touch on the purely practical points that we have to deal with and that are important for us - users.

What does the amount of RAM have to do with it?

There are two versions of the Windows operating system (at least for now, only two). It doesn't matter what exactly we take from modern and current systems: XP, Vista or 7.
All of these systems are available in two flavors - 32-bit and 64-bit. For example:

Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit (or х86 - equivalent designations)
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (or x64 - equivalent designations)
Windows Vista Ultimate x86 (x86 -this is the 32-bit version designation)
Windows Visa Ultimate x64 (respectively - 64-bit version)

Of course, there are architectural differences between 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows. You can talk about them for a long time, but it's useless, believe me. 🙂

The most important features and differences that directly relate to the user and that one has to deal with:

1. The maximum amount of RAM.
2. Bit depth of the operating system.
3. The bit capacity of the processor.

We will talk about this in more detail ...

The maximum amount of RAM.

A 32-bit operating system can address (ie, can use, "see") no more than 4 GB of RAM. This is the most important difference, and the most significant. If your computer has, say, 2 GB installed, then a 32-bit operating system works fine with that amount.

If you install 4 GB of memory and run a 32-bit OS, it simply won't see that amount. All she can use is roughly 3.5 GB out of 4 GB. It cannot provide the rest of the volume for running programs. Of course, if you install 8 GB of memory in your computer, say, and at the same time remain on a 32-bit system, then it will also not see more than 3.5 GB of the total installed volume.

A 64-bit operating system can handle much larger amounts of memory - up to 192 GB (for Windows 7). Those. If, say, you wanted to install 8 GB of memory, then you definitely need to switch to a 64-bit OS, otherwise, you simply cannot use such a large amount of available space.

We have considered, one might say, "extremes", up to 2 GB and 8 GB or more. And what about the golden mean? What if you already have it installed or are planning to increase the storage to 4GB? Do I need to switch to a 64-bit OS in this case so that the computer can use not 3.3, but all 4 GB of memory?

Not everything is so simple ... 64-bit OS versions use noticeably more memory. All variables are no longer 32-bit, but 64-bit. This usually increases the volume of applications by 20-40%, which leads to a corresponding increase in the amount of memory occupied. File formats such as music or video are not affected.

Install 64-bit versionWindows to better use 4 GB of memory, it makes no sense, even if the 32-bit version only recognizes up to 3.5 GB of memory. The problem lies in the fact that you will get missing memory, but you will immediately lose it for the reason that the 64-bit version requires more memory for itself. So the transition to 64 bits is relevant only with a larger memory: 6, 8 GB or more.

So, if you decide to install a lot of memory, and here you need a 64-bit OS for sure, then perhaps you are interested in the question:

What features does 64-bit Windows Vista / 7 have?

Visually - none. Those. outwardly, it is an ordinary OS that does not differ in any way from the 32-bit version. You can determine whether it belongs to the 64-bit architecture only by going to the "system properties" item in the control panel - the bit depth is indicated there.

Technically, there are slight differences. The first, in fact, is that a 64-bit OS "sees" large amounts of memory and knows how to work with them. Second, it allows you to run 64-bit applications.

64-bit OS allows you to run regular 32-bit programs. In the usual way, no settings are required for this. Everything as usual. It's just that a 64-bit system has a subsystem for executing 32-bit applications. Therefore, you can successfully install and work with both 32-bit and 64-bit applications.

Now there are few such x64 applications, although their number is constantly growing. This is especially true for resource-intensive programs - graphics and video editors, and so on. Those. all programs that primarily need large amounts of available memory for work. For example, so that some video editor can use more than 4 GB of available memory in work.

For example, Adobe has stated that modern applications in the Adobe CS5 series will only be 64-bit. This means that, say, Photoshop CS5, Dreamweaver CS5etc. will only be able to run on a 64-bit system. They simply won't start on a 32-bit OS. Why?

Because 32-bit applications can work in a 64-bit OS, but not vice versa!

The next technical point is 64-bit OSs require 64-bit drivers. As a rule, all modern (no older than two years) PC devices, laptops and peripherals have two driver versions on the accompanying installation disc - 32 and 64-bit. Therefore, there will be no problems with modern devices - as usual, we insert the disc with the driver into the drive and start the installation, the installer will itself determine the Windows version and launch the driver corresponding to the bitness.

If there is no disk or there is no 64-bit driver on it, you must visit the official website of the developer of a specific device to download such a driver. The same goes for legacy hardware.

ALWAYS check for 64-bit versions of ALL the required drivers BEFORE you start installing the 64-bit version of Windows!

The bit capacity of the processor.

Where can I get / how to identify 64-bit applications?

64-bit software can be easily identified. On the packaging, the system requirements usually indicate that this program is 64-bit. The same can be indicated separately on the packaging.

If you purchase some software via the Internet, then belonging to the 64-bit architecture is also indicated.

Here's an example: my licensed boxed version of Windows Vista Ultimate. The set includes two installation discs - 32 and 64-bit OS versions:

Do not pay attention to the "English-speaking" in this case, the OS was just bought in the United States.

But that's in this case - Vista Ultimate (only Ultimate) was shipped like that, in two versions. As a rule, the same Windows, for example (or any other program) is sold OR 32-bit OR 64-bit, as indicated on the box, as I mentioned.

This is where the differences and features of 64-bit Windows operating systems that are significant for the user end.

Otherwise, everything is exactly the same as on the usual 32-bit Windows XP / Vista / 7.

Before installing a driver or program, be sure to know which bitness operating system Windows installed on your computer: 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64). Windows x86 or 32-bit systems support no more than 4 GB of RAM, while 64-bit systems support more than 4 GB. For example, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit supports up to 16 GB of RAM. More advanced editions of Windows like Pro and Ultimate support up to 192GB of RAM! To determine which version of Windows is installed on your computer, follow these steps.

Bit Windows 8

There are 2 ways to determine the bitness of Windows 8. If one method doesn't work, try another.

Method 1: View the System Window of the Control Panel

1. Enter "System" in the search box and then tap or click Options.
2. Click the System icon.
3. If the 64-bit version of Windows 8 is installed, this will be indicated in the System type field in the system section. And if you have a 32-bit version of Windows 8, it will say: 32-bit operating system.

Method 2: Open the system information window

1. Move your cursor near the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, move the pointer to the lower-right corner of the screen and click Find.
2. Enter "system information" in the search box.
3. Click on "System" and then click on the "System Information" button.
4. The box below the item title will say System Type Windows 8 64-bit. Or, under System Type, it will say Windows 8 32-bit.

Bit Windows 7

In the window that opens, find the System type item

Bit depth Windows Vista

• Windows x64 - the System Type item will indicate: "64-bit operating system"
• Windows x86 - the System Type item will indicate: "32-bit operating system"

Bit Windows XP

Note that the overwhelming majority use a 32-bit operating system.

Method 1

In the window that opens, find the System item

• if you are using a 64-bit version of the operating system, the System item will indicate: Microsoft Windows XP version x64
• if a 32-bit version of the operating system is used, the System item will indicate: Microsoft Windows XP version x32

Method 2

1. Click "Start"
2. Select "Run"
3. Enter the command "CMD" in the window that appears, i.e. call command line
4. Enter the command "winver"
5. Click "Start"
6. Select "All Programs"
7. "Standard"
8. Item "Service"
9. Click on "System Information"

Method 3

Thanks to this method, you will receive complete information about the system. Usually the question arises where it is written about the bitness, and so, if the text "x86 Family" is present, then the system is 32-bit.

Question: Why is it not always possible to see the necessary information in Windows XP (in the first two methods) or is there no "System" item?

Answer: Because Windows XP SP3 (the third fix pack) has a large number of assemblies and the first two options are not relevant in all assemblies, for example, in some assemblies, only the 3rd method of checking the system bitness works.

After reading this post, you will find out 4 ways to find out the system capacity.

Why and in what cases you need to know the discharge of your operating system. If you decide to install windows on your computer, then you just need to know what kind of discharge you need for your computer.

Without knowing this knowledge, you will establish an incorrect system that will torment you until the end of your days.

If you install a 64-bit system, 32x your computer will run on 3 GB of RAM,

which significantly reduce the performance of windows. And if place 32x, install 64x, then you will have problems installing and running programs. Therefore, before installing windows, you need to find out which windows you need to select.

According to my knowledge and experiments, I will tell you about 4 ways that can accurately solve the issue of bit depth.

1. Via shortcut my computer
2. Through the disk. FROM:
3. Through the command line
4. Using the program

1. In order to find out complete information about your windows system, you need to hover the mouse cursor over the shortcut to my computer. Right-click and go to properties.

After you open, pay attention to the line type of systems

This line will write the rank of your windows. And when installing, we select the same category.

Attention, in some cases, next to the discharge in parentheses, it may be written that approximately 1.2 GB is not used,

this means that windows is not installed correctly. That is, the 64x position was set to 32x. in this case, we choose the appropriate option, so we carefully follow the warnings.

1. If you have installed operating windows 64x, then this can be determined by going to the system partition. FROM:.

We open my computer, go in, radel. C: and in this divided you will find the Program Files (86X) popup.

If you have such a folder, it means that your operating system is 64-bit.

The Program Files (86X) folder is created by the system in order to install programs running under 32-bit. By this definition, you can determine what kind of system you have.

1. And so the next way is to determine the bit depth through the command line.

This method will probably be difficult for a beginner. But I'll tell you anyway, as it still gives a lot of information about your system. Open start and enter the command line in the search bar.

We open it. And in the window that opens with small English letters, enter system info and press enter

Our focus should be on the line type of systems

This is how you can determine what bit depth your windows operating system consists of. This method will give you accurate information about windows OS.

1. The most recent and ineffective way is to define the system using the program.

Why ineffective?

Yes, because someone will not surf the Internet in search of a program when such easy methods are at hand. Besides, not everyone has an Internet connection. Despite this, I will still tell you about this method.

First, go to the browser and search for Yandex or Google, write 64bit-checker. We go here this site

But now we press download. By the way, if the browser translator does not lie, the name of this program is 64bit checker. Cool name

Now go to the download folder and run this program. This program does not need to be installed and starts immediately.

During startup, the program will analyze your system itself. And in the first line there will be such an inscription Your Windows is detected as 64bit (x64).

It translates like this: your Windows is detected as 64-bit (x64)

What is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit hardware

The difference between these two parameters is something like this. You have a two door machine, in which only two places are 32 bit windows,

and a four-door car is 64-bit. Let's say you are a taxi driver and you have a 4-door car, but you carry only two passengers, and you have two free seats and you do not use them. You are not using the par of your performance.

This situation occurs if you install 32-bit windows instead of 64-bit.

And vice versa, you carry three people with a two-door car, which significantly loads the car and productivity such a situation happens if you installed a 64x system instead of 32x.

Here are the pies friends. I hope in this article I have clearly and clearly revealed the essence of the topic. It seems to me that the best way to find out how many bits your system is is first. In terms of this article. Since it is the simplest, fastest and most accurate. You will probably agree with me.

If you have any effective method, write in the comments. And if you do not understand something or do not work out, too, write in the comments, I will be happy to discuss this topic. That's all for now!

You will be interested

Remember, once I already talked about the Windows operating system? Today I would like to talk about how, in fact, to find out this bit depth in various ways. So let's go.

How to find out the bitness of the Windows 7 or 8 operating system?

In this case, everything is very good. In order to find out the bitness of the system, you need to open the window for viewing basic information about the computer. This can be done in various ways. First: find the "Computer" icon on the desktop (it is also in the "Start" menu), right-click and select "Properties".

Another option is through the control panel. Click on the "Start" button, select "Control Panel", then click "System and Security" - "System" or simply "System".

You will see a window showing basic information about your computer. Pay your attention to the line "System type" - it clearly says the bit width of your system.

How to find out the bitness of Windows XP?

In the case of Windows XP, the process is no more complicated, and perhaps even easier. We do the same: find the "Mock Computer" icon on the desktop, right-click on it, and then select "Properties" from the menu. The system properties window will open in front of you. On the General tab, you will see the following:

Pay your attention to the "System" subsection (highlighted in the screenshot). If you only see the name of the operating system, then it is a 32-bit OS. If the name contains x64 bitness, then it will be exactly a 64-bit OS. I don't think you can get confused.

How else can you determine the capacity of the system?

If, for some specific reason, you cannot find out the bitness of the system in the ways described above, you can try using other methods. Which ones?

For example, you can go to the system drive (in the vast majority of cases, this is drive C, where the operating system is installed) and find the Program Files folder there. On a 64-bit OS, two such folders are installed in one section at once: Program Files and Program Files (x86). The first installs programs that run in 64-bit mode, and the second, respectively, in 32-bit.

You can also look with help. We open the last one and watch the processes. If next to some of them there is a 32 with an asterisk (* 32), then a 64-bit system is used. In 32-bit, there are no additions to processes.

I think this material will be enough for you to find out the bit depth of your operating system.