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I'm using a 32-bit operating system. How can I check if my hardware supports 64-bit?

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7 Answers 7

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Install and run Securable, it will tell you. If you get the 64 max bit length, then yes your processor supports it.

http://www.grc.com/securable.htm

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  • Both good answers, but I love Securable for its simplicity for the given task. And large font. ;) Feb 27, 2011 at 18:09
  • grc. Still out and about , even in the current year. Haven't use that site in decades!
    – kellogs
    Feb 18, 2017 at 11:05
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    But that's for Windows. Do they do a Linux version? Jun 10, 2017 at 16:36
  • Grc only has Windows utlities, check over here under Unix...unix.stackexchange.com ... or here...softwarerecs.stackexchange.com
    – Moab
    Jun 17, 2017 at 16:07
  • "64bit maximum bit length" is not a 64bit CPU. Support for over 4GB RAM is a 64bit CPU. . 64bit instructions don't help when a PageFile is needed to execute them.... Jul 16, 2017 at 11:47
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For Windows 7 and above

From https://support.microsoft.com/en-ph/help/15056/windows-7-32-64-bit-faq:

  1. Open Performance Information and Tools: Clicking the Start button and then click Control Panel. In the search box (Ctrl + E), type Performance Information and Tools, and then, in the list of results, click Performance Information and Tools
  2. Click View and print details
  3. In the System section, you can see whether or not you can run a 64-bit version of Windows under 64-bit capable

Example: 64-bit capable

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  • 1
    since the last time i answered this question microsoft has provided a dedicated page for the same... Is my PC running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows? Nov 20, 2012 at 13:57
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    That tells you if you're running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows. Not if you can run 64-bit Windows.
    – Ian Boyd
    Jan 25, 2014 at 15:51
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    It was hoping the web-site would describe a way to see if my machine is 64-bit capable.
    – Ian Boyd
    Jan 26, 2014 at 13:56
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    Answer not valid for Windows XP. May 11, 2016 at 9:00
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    If your PC's Windows Experience Index has not yet been established, this method will require Administrator Rights.
    – Stevoisiak
    Jul 3, 2017 at 15:30
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You can see whether you have a 64-bit or 32-bit CPU in Windows by opening the System Information window.

  • If your System Type includes x86, you have a 32-bit CPU.
  • If your System Type includes x64, you have a 64-bit CPU.

(Note that having a 64-bit capable CPU is NOT the same as having a 64-bit version of Windows.)


Windows 10/8

  1. Right click the Start button, then choose Run.

  2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter.

Windows 8 - System Information


Windows 7/Vista/XP

  1. Click the Start button, then choose Run.

  2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter

Windows 7 System Information


Sources

4

Install CPU-Z, run and check out results. If you are unsure, post results (screenshot) to your question. There is no good way in Windows for determining that, except if your Windows is already 64bit. Check out for example this question.

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Another method to find out if your processor supports 32 or 64-bit:

  1. Click on the Start menu
  2. Click Run (or type run on Windows Vista/7 and press Enter)
  3. Type regedit and press OK
  4. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\SYSTEM\CENTERALPROCESSOR\0

Look at the Identifier, it should say contain "Intel64" or "Intel32".

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  • 2
    reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\SYSTEM\CentralProcessor\0" from Command Prompt when access to regedit.exe has been disabled.
    – deizel.
    Sep 11, 2013 at 10:05
  • Mine says x86 Family 6 Model 26 Stepping 5 Sep 25, 2021 at 20:34
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It does not matter what your current OS is - sysinfo, properties, etc., will only tell you what your current OS is. To find out whether your hardware is 64-bit capable, download and run Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

The "Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor" should give you a full report on whether your system can run 32-bit and/or 64-bit. Any drivers can be downloaded, no issue there. A new Windows 7 package should come with both Windows 7 32-bit disk and 64-bit disk as well.

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I would like to point out "64-bit instruction set" as defined by Intel doesn't guarantee a 64-bit CPU. It refers to Windows 64 compatibility, as I remember IA-32e is not supported after 8.1. due to the hardware NX bit requirement.

This is where confusion reigns because Technet (and MSDN to lesser extent) imply Windows 64 is required to use over 4 GB of RAM, omitting the part about hardware support. It's not clear to end users.

Intel ARK maximum memory specifications are nGB for all 64-bit processors, but for the IA-32 family the "nGB" is replaced with "nbits", e.g. 32-bit support...

One way to find out is look up chipset specifications on Intel ARK. CPU hardware DEP/NX should ensure full compatibility as well.

The "virtual + physical" can translate to pagefile + RAM...it pays to check...

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Typing systeminfo in a CMD prompt will also bring up specifications...

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Or- My Computer/Properties/Advanced/Environment Variables if Intel64 or AMD64 is listed next to architecture you have a 64-bit hardware. :)

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