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3.2 32 or 64?

✅ 32 or 64 can mean two things

When we say 32 or 64, we can be talking about two things

1. The architecture of my motherboard

  • factory settings of the motherboard
  • unchangeable
  • architecture of a system cannot be modified. ❌

2. Type of Operating System

  • the OS can be 32 or 64 bits
  • changeable

✅ The architecture of my motherboard

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☑️ 32 bits architecture = x86

  • We say that my architecture is 32 bits when all the buses transmit 32 bits in parallel
  • buses of the motherboard has 32 bits
  • Parallel means: at the same time
  • like a 32 lanes highway

✔️ RAM in x86

  • If you have x-86, your RAM maximum would be <=4GB
  • If the conections(bus) have 32 bits,
  • you have 2 to the power to 32 positions on the RAM
  • 2 to the power to 32 = 4GB of RAM
  • ends with 8F, FFFFFFFF
  • NOT file size, RAM size would be 4GB ❌

  • ⚠️ If you insert more than 4GB, your RAM will not be read at all! 😱

✔️ Name of 32 bits architecture, x86

  • The technical name of 32 bits architecture is called x86
  • following the name of the first 32 bits architecture computer, intel 8086

✔️ What uses the x86 motherboard system?

  • these days personal computers use x64
  • but many servers still keep the achitecture x86

☑️ 64 bits architecture = x64

  • We say that my architecture is 64 bits when all the buses transmit 64 bits in parallel

✔️ Name of 64 bits, x64

  • The technical name of 64 bits architecture is x64 systems
  • Some ppl also called x64 as x86-64, but recomment x64

✔️ Check before downloading

  • When you download an application,
  • you need to know if your computer is a x86 or x64
  • from 2010, all computers are 64 bits

  • ✔️ RAM in x64
  • you have 64 bits for everything
  • you have 2 to the power to 64 positions on the RAM
  • 2 to the power to 64 = 16Exa of RAM
  • end in 16F, FFFFFFFFFFFFFF
  • this does not exist, but RAM would be 16Exa RAM
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❓ Can a system with x86 read more than 4GB?
👉🏻 NO.

❓ I have a computer, when I install smth bigger than 4GB, I have an error. WHy?
👉🏻 Bc I my motherboard is using x86

✅ How to know the architecture of your motherboard

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1️⃣ First way: MSINFO 32

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windows + R > MSINFO 32 > System Type(Tipo de sistema)
  • when you download, your tool should have the same architecture
  • the tool of CPU-Z for System Analysis and Monitoring Windows systems
  • this tool detects your architecture

2️⃣ Second way: systeminfo

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Win+R > cmd > systeminfo
  • systeminfo
  • capture the terminal

✅ Type of Operating system

  • modifiable
  • applications inside the HDD

☑️ 32bits

  • We say that OS has 32 bits if the Apps/Files of the Harddisk(secondary memory) have a maximum ofs4GB
  • apps, files will have max of 4GB, not the RAM ❌

☑️ 64bits

  • We say that OS has 64 bits if the Apps of the Harddisk(secondary memory) can have a maximum of 16Exa Bytes

✅ How to check my OS

Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-16-00-29.png

1️⃣ on terminal: wmic os get osarchitecture

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Win+R > cmd > wmic os get osarchitecture
  • windows key + R
  • type cmd
  • in the terminal that appears, write wmic os get osarchitecture

2️⃣ visually

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You could also do the visual way: Open windows explorer > This PC (Este Equipo) Double Click C
  • open windows explorer
  • go to this pc
  • double click on C
  • if you see two folders, your OS has 64bits
    • one folder than ends in x86, it will be for files less than 4GB
    • and the other folder would be for bigger apps
  • if you see one folder, your OS has 32bits

  • ⭐️ Review
  • in a 32bits OS, you see only one program files
  • in a 64bits OS, you see two program files
    • program files: for bigger applications, bigger than 4GB
    • program files(x86): for files that are less or equals to than 4GB
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❓ Can I have a windows 11 or 32 bits?
👉🏻 Yes you can. All OS have 32 and 64 bits versions, including windows 11
- so, you can choose.
  • the bigger the architecture, bigger the OS,
  • 64 bit versions are always better, faster, more efficient
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❓Do we have all version, version 32 and version 64 of all OS?

- windows 8 had 32, 64 versions, windows 11 also have both versions...
- all OS have two versions
- do not think that 32 bit OS is old and bad, its just another version of OS
- and also, 64bit OS does not mean new and good, just choose the OS version that suits your computer.
This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.