Windows 7 Service Pack 2 64

Microsoft all the same offers both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows ten. Only, whether you lot're installing Windows ten or Windows 7, yous should almost certainly skip the 32-flake version and get the 64-chip version instead.

The 64-scrap version of Windows is also known as the "x64" version of Windows, while the 32-bit version is too known equally the "x86" version.

Your PC is Almost Certainly 64-bit

64-bit PCs have been mainstream for a long time. Intel'due south first big 64-bit consumer CPU was the Core 2 Duo, which was released in 2006. AMD released the Athlon 64 in 2003. If you have a PC you purchased or built in the last decade, information technology's nearly certainly a 64-flake PC.

There are some exceptions, of course. Early on versions of the very underpowered Intel Atom CPU line were just 32-fleck CPUs. Simply those were so tedious when they were released that it'south very unlikely many people are still using those discount netbooks and tablets today.

Computers with 64-bit CPUs can run 32-bit operating systems, just there'due south really no reason for them to do and so anymore. Even on a 64-bit operating organisation, yous can yet run 32-scrap applications just fine.

Why You Should Install the 64-bit Edition

32-bit versions of Windows are limited to iv GB of RAM, which is a modest corporeality these days when fifty-fifty upkeep PCs these days unremarkably have viii GB or more. If you lot want to actually utilise more than iv GB of RAM—and you probably practise—you'll need a 64-scrap version of Windows.

RELATED: How To Upgrade Or Supersede Your PC's RAM

In addition, 32-bit programs (even if they're running on a 64-bit Windows operating arrangement) can just access 2 GB of RAM each. Modernistic demanding games and professional tools can easily use more than than 2 GB of RAM.

Given that limitation, it'due south no surprise that many applications at present require a 64-bit operating organization. For instance, if you lot desire to play the PC version of K Theft Auto V and many other PC games released in the last few years, yous'll need a 64-bit version of Windows. ZBrush, a 3D modelling tool, discontinued its 32-bit version. Fifty-fifty NVIDIA has stopped working on its 32-bit graphics drivers, so you'll demand a 64-flake operating system to go new graphics drivers for NVIDIA hardware.

64-bit versions also have a number of useful security features that 32-fleck versions of Windows just don't. For case, an expanded address space allows Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) to ameliorate protect against attacks on programs. Drivers must exist signed unless they're installed in a special boot mode, Kernel Patch Protection prevents applications from patching the Windows kernel in retention on 64-bit versions of Windows, and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) has more restrictive settings on the 64-flake edition.

Why Would Yous Want 32-bit Windows?

At that place are some valid reasons why y'all might desire to run a 32-bit version of Windows. If you're using a very quondam computer with a 32-bit processor, you don't accept a choice. Some manufacturers may simply offer 32-bit drivers for particularly ancient hardware devices, and y'all'd need a 32-flake version of Windows to run those.

The 32-chip version of Windows likewise allows you to run xvi-bit software written for Windows 3.1, which is a characteristic not plant in 64-bit Windows. However, y'all can ever run sixteen-fleck software in DOSBox.

Some older programs may also only run on 32-bit versions of Windows if they used unsafe techniques, such as kernel patching, that take now been blocked on 64-bit versions of Windows for security reasons.

32-flake versions of Windows should merely be used for legacy compatibility purposes. That's all a 32-bit operating system is really necessary for: old CPUs, ancient hardware devices, Windows 3.1 applications, and other applications that need updating to run on a modern version of Windows.

How to Check Whether You're Using 64-bit or 32-flake Windows

If you're non sure whether your reckoner has a 64-bit version of Windows—or fifty-fifty a 64-bit CPU—you tin check from within Windows.

On Windows 10, head to Settings > Organisation > Well-nigh. Await to the correct of the "System blazon" entry. If you lot see "64-bit operating organization, x64-based processor," your estimator is running a 64-bit operating organization. If you see "32-flake operating system, x64-based processor," your computer is running a 32-bit operating system just is capable of running a 64-scrap operating system.

RELATED: How Do I Know if I'm Running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows?

On Windows 7, head to Control Panel > System and Security > System. Look at "System blazon" to come across if you're running a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system. Windows 7'southward Control Panel doesn't show whether your CPU is 64-bit capable, so y'all'll want to perform an online search for the processor name—displayed on the Organisation screen—to detect out whether it'south a 64-bit CPU if you're currently running 32-bit Windows.

How to Upgrade to 64-bit Windows

If y'all're using a 32-flake version of Windows on a 64-bit capable processor, there'south good and bad news. The skillful news is that you tin can upgrade to a 64-bit operating system for gratuitous. Your current Windows license can exist used to install either a 64-fleck or 32-chip version of Windows. The bad news is that you'll need to reinstall your Windows operating organization to make the change.

RELATED: How to Switch From 32-bit Windows ten to 64-bit Windows ten

On Windows 10, you can upgrade to 64-flake by getting 64-bit Windows installation media and performing a clean install. On Windows 7, the process is like—just download 64-bit Windows installation media from Microsoft.

Microsoft Should Make 32-bit Windows Harder to Find

We call up Microsoft should make the 32-chip version of Windows harder to admission. Some people might need information technology, simply average Windows users shouldn't be able to accidentally install a version of Windows 10 (or even Windows 7) that has so many limitations with modern hardware and software.

Backblaze, for example, has noted that many of its customers who use a 32-chip version of Windows seem to have installed information technology accidentally without realizing the downsides. And so, when installing Windows in the future, be sure to become for the 64-chip version.

Epitome Credit: Nor Gal/Shutterstock.com.

Windows 7 Service Pack 2 64,

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/348850/why-you-should-always-install-64-bit-windows/

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