x64 signifie "architecture 64 bits". Solved

Question

Hello everyone,

I think I didn't understand what x64 means. It seemed to me that it referred to 64 bits (like x32, 32 bits - but as for x86, I have no idea) since software is developed for x32, x64, and x86 architectures.

Actually, I have a DELL Optiplex 740 with an AMD 64 x2 Dual Core Processor 3800+. So I deduce that I have a 64-bit dual-core processor, but when I try to install something in 64 bits, it tells me that I don't have the right hardware architecture.

Does this mean that I have a 64-bit processor running on a 32-bit motherboard? Is that possible?

Thank you to everyone who will shed some light on this...

Configuration: Windows XP Firefox 2.0.0.3

syrack · Accepted Answer

hi

you have two kinds of processors:

1) the x86 which is none other than the 32-bit processors. Why x86? Because Intel identified its types of processors in this way: 486, 586, and 686 which are actually in the same order as P1, P2, and P3 for the 486, P4 single core 586, P4 dual core 686

2) the x64 which is none other than the 64-bit processors

as for the OS, if you install a 64-bit OS all your programs will work correctly whether they are 32-bit or 64-bit, but if you install a 32-bit OS your 64-bit programs will not work

epango · Answer

Hello,

You're mixing things up a bit. We're talking about 32-bit or 64-bit processors; these are two classes of processors that differ by the number of bits (binary elements, 0 or 1) they can process per clock cycle.

X86 refers to the processor instructions of the 8086 that Intel invented in the 1970s.

AMD64X2 3800+ or rather Athlon64X2... is a designation for AMD processors. 64 indicates that it is a 64-bit processor and X2 indicates that it is a dual-core processor (basically obtained by combining 2 single-core processors).

Sincerely.

mushu14 · Answer

to install 64-bit programs you need a 64-bit version of Windows XP

epango · Answer

Hello,

Most 64-bit processors run 32-bit operating systems. To optimize the performance of 64-bit processors, a 64-bit OS (XP 64-bit or Vista 64-bit) would be needed, but in the consumer space, there are hardly any programs written for 64-bit OS. So, a 32-bit OS must be chosen.

Best regards.

deneb · Answer

Hello and thank you for your responses espango and mushu14,

If I understand your answers correctly, this means that my computer is physically 64-bit (processor and motherboard) but the version of Windows I’m using only works in 32-bit, and that's why I can't install 64-bit software?

But then why do I see 2 CPUs in the task manager; that shouldn't be the case if the Windows I have is 32-bit, right?

On the other hand, I tried to install the same version of Windows that I have on my machine, on another machine which I am sure is 64-bit, and the installation informed me that it was not possible... So does that mean it is not possible to install 32-bit Windows on a 64-bit machine? Then it shouldn't work on my machine...

How can I be sure if my computer is physically 64-bit (or 32)? Concerning the instruction set, is there a x64 instruction set too? Because on the site http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/download.php?mode=ViewCategory&catid=5 there are x64 and x86... And how can I tell if my processor works with an x64 or x86 instruction set? Is there also a x32 instruction set?

Thank you if you have the patience to answer my many questions and see you soon

epango · Answer

Hello,

I'll try to respond paragraph by paragraph.

You understood correctly. That's exactly it.

Windows sees it as if you had 2 CPUs, probably because you have a dual-core processor. It sees each core as an independent processor.

Normally, you should be able to install a 32-bit OS on a machine equipped with a 64-bit OS because current consumer 64-bit processors are actually 32/64-bit. Unless this machine is equipped with one of Intel's early 64-bit processors that were only 64-bit or if it is a professional 64-bit machine that would only run 64-bit programs. For your information, boxed versions of Windows Vista actually contain 2 versions in their packaging: a 32-bit version and a 64-bit version. This will allow for an easy transition to 64-bit when there are enough programs written in 64-bit.

Indeed, instruction sets for 64-bit have been added, which are labeled x64.

Best regards.

deneb · Answer

Thank you epango,

But I still have a few grey areas. If a Windows is in 32-bit version, isn't it surprising that it can detect a dual-core, which is necessarily 64-bit, right?

And is there a way to reliably know the bit number of a processor or motherboard (software or otherwise)? And similarly, how can one know the instruction set of a processor?

Thank you for your patience epango and for your explanations.

epango · Answer

Hi,

The number of cores has nothing to do with 64 bits. It's just a coincidence that we started making processors with multiple cores after the switch to 64 bits. The proof that dual-core is not related to 64 bits is that there are 64-bit processors with a single core.

Is there a way to know if a processor is 64 bits? For the general public, I don't think so. We have to trust the manufacturers. If they were trying to pass off a 32-bit as a 64-bit, it would be known quickly.

As for instruction sets, professionals might know the details. There is presumably no way for us to know. But it doesn't matter to us.

Best regards.

deneb · Answer

Okay, thank you for your responses.

But for the instruction games, I think it is important for us. As I mentioned for the daemon tools software https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/6887-daemon-tools-lite/, there are several files depending on the number of instructions.

Thank you very much anyway.

See you soon.

epango · Answer

Hi,

I looked at the link. Even though I don't understand English very well, I understood that it's about an optical media emulator (CD and DVD). There are two versions: one for 32-bit OS and the other for 64-bit OS. As for the instruction sets, it's something technical that is indicated with codes, like 3D Now, MMX, SSE, SSE2, ..., for the latest ones. If you were a programmer, it might be of some interest. But for you, there's no need to stress over it.

Best regards.

deneb · Answer

Thank you.  But I still need to know which instruction set I have to know which version to download, right? x86 or x64? right?

epango · Answer

Hello,

I believe you don't understand me at all. You're mixing up operating systems (for 32-bit and 64-bit processors) and instruction sets, which are very technical matters.

Your PC is equipped with Windows XP, you need to download the 32-bit version of Daemon Tools. Here is a link in French:

https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/6887-daemon-tools-lite/

Best regards.

deneb · Answer

Thank you for the link, but I have the software, I used this link as an example.

And on the link I gave you, there is an option to download:
- DAEMON Tools 4.09 X86
or
- DAEMON Tools 4.09 X64

These are indeed versions dependent on the instruction set, right?

epango · Answer

Hello,

It is true that the page the link leads to can be confusing, but when you read carefully, you understand that it is the version for 32-bit OS and the version for 64-bit OS.

I hadn't thought of cpu-z. I haven’t used it yet, but give it a try; it will likely indicate the class of the processor.

Sincerely.

dendeb · Answer

Hello and thank you both.

Here are the results with CPU-z:
https://www.hiboox.com
It clearly shows that the instruction set is x64.

To respond to your last post epango, indeed I hadn't noticed. But in this case, as we can see on Wikipedia (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/X64), can we generalize and say that a 64-bit processor has an x64 instruction set and a 32-bit or 16-bit processor has an x32 instruction set?

Thank you both.

epango · Answer

Hi,  It's clear that the instruction set is x64.  But everyone knows that. I put ... because I didn't want to write everything down.  Can we generalize and say that a 64-bit processor has an x64 instruction set and a 32-bit or 16-bit processor has an x32 instruction set?  That's not quite it. You saw that there's x86. This notation refers to the instruction sets of Intel's 8086 processor, which was a 16-bit processor. As we moved through other classes of processors, we enriched it by adding more instructions, and when we reached 64 bits, we supplemented it with specifically 64-bit instruction sets which are labeled x64.  Finally, I ended up understanding your initial reasoning. For you, 64 bits and 2 cores, you thought each core was 32 bits. So 32 + 32 = 64 bits. That's not it. These are 64-bit processors with 2 cores, each working in 64 bits. It's just like if you had 2 64-bit processors working at the same time sharing the workload.  Best regards.

epango · Answer

Hi,

It's true that it's not straightforward. The explanation is that, for consumer PCs, current applications are written to be run on 32-bit OS, and when those applications are run on a 64-bit OS, they are not recognized. There should have been backward compatibility. Apparently, that is not the case. In my opinion, this is an anomaly. Indeed, I don't remember this being the case when we transitioned from 16 to 32 bits. With a 32-bit OS, it was still possible to run 16-bit applications.

Best regards.

--

They don't put down horses, even when they get too old.

Athars · Answer

Hi,
it's me again. I'm going to receive a Dell for Christmas with XP Pro. How can I know if I can install Vista 32 or 64 (in dual boot)?
config: Dell Inspiron 530 E6750 Core 2 Duo processor 2.66GHz, dual-channel memory 2048MB, 256MB nVidia GeForce 8600GT video card.
thanks again for your responses.

epango · Answer

Hi,

To my knowledge, both can be installed on your PC, but if you install Vista 64 bits, it won't be very useful due to the lack of applications written for 64 bits. The only solution for dual boot is Vista 32 bits.

Sincerely.
--

We do not put horses down, even when they have become too old.

Athars · Answer

message received 5/5 thank you Epango

X64 signifie "architecture 64 bits".

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