At present, when the transition to 64-bit operating systems and programs for them is gradually taking place, more and more often on forums on the Internet you can find the question of how to find out how many bits the system is installed on a computer. All major modern operating systems (Windows, Mac and Linux) exist in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

The need to switch to 64-bit versions of operating systems arose due to the inability to address more than 4 gigabytes random access memory on 32-bit systems. This is well known to everyone who has expanded the amount of RAM on 32-bit systems up to 4 GB. Of the installed 4 GB, the computer in this case could only use 3.2-3.7 GB.
With the transition to 64-bit systems, the limit of the theoretically supported size of RAM has expanded significantly and amounted to 2x64 = 16 exabytes, which, translated into more familiar values, will be 16 billion gigabytes. Thus, the margin for increasing RAM after the transition of computers to 64-bit capacity is simply huge.

In order for the computer to work in 64-bit mode, of course, you need one that supports x64 architecture. All modern processors have support for 64-bit instructions, which allows them to work with both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.

You can find out how many bit system is installed in your computer in the following ways.

AT Windows Vista and Windows 7
Click the "Start" button and select "Control Panel" from the menu that appears. Launch the "System" component in the control panel. In the window that opens, look for the line "System Type" opposite which the bit depth should be indicated operating system. In our example, the operating system turned out to be 32-bit.

In Windows XP
If you are using Windows XP Home Edition, then this operating system is 32-bit. Windows XP Professional Edition was released in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. To see how many bit system you have, click right click mouse on the icon from the desktop "My Computer" and in the appeared context menu select "Properties". See what will be indicated in the window that appears. The 64-bit version will be labeled as Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Otherwise, you are using a 32-bit operating system.

On Mac OS X
Find out what mode the operating system kernel is in Mac systems OX X is available by clicking on the Apple logo () in the left upper corner and select "About this computer". In the window that appears, click the "Details" button. In the left column with the name "Contents" select the section "Software". On the right in the window with the name "Overview software" find the line "64-bit kernel and extensions" and see what value is opposite - yes or no.

On Linux
On all UNIX-like systems, including Mac OS, the bitness of the operating system can be determined with the uname -a command entered in the terminal.
The use of a 64-bit system will be indicated by the presence of the x86_64 value in the system response. If i686 is present, then the operating system is 32-bit.

In addition to supporting more RAM, 64-bit operating systems are faster, can handle large files, use less CPU in many operations, and are more secure and resistant to hacker attacks.

To switch to 64-bit, as a rule, you need to update or completely reinstall the operating system from a distribution kit of the appropriate bit depth.

Sooner or later, any user of a personal computer needs to determine the bit depth of the system used.

How to find out how many bits, 32 or 64, for inexperienced or novice computer owners? For advanced users, this is a simple task that can be solved very quickly and without any difficulty.

To begin with, before we find out whether it is 32 or 64 bits, we determine which operating system is on the device you are using.

If you have saved the documentation for the device, there you will find all the necessary information, including the bit depth (32 or 64 bits). When you start a computer or laptop or other gadget, the Windows logo always appears, and at this moment you can read the name of the operating system. To date, the following operating systems are relevant: Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, Windows Server 2003. Other products from this company are obsolete and not supported by the manufacturer.

The probability that your device is running on an older version of the operating system is zero.

On the toolbar, click the "Start" button, in the tab that opens, select the "Run" item. Next, a window will open in which you need to write a command to call the sysdm.cpl information and click on the "OK" button.

Then you need to read the name on the "General" tab in the "System" area. If you see informational information: “Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition”, then you have a 64-bit operating system, but if you read at this place: “Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition”, then it is 32-bit.

There is also a second way. Also click "Start" and select "Run" again. Only this time in the window that appears, write the following: winmsd.exe and click on the "OK" button. In "System Information" find "Processor".

If the value that corresponds to the processor starts with "x86", then you have a 32-bit OS.

If the value starts with "EM64T" or "IA-64", respectively, your device is controlled by a 64-bit operating system.

Regardless of which version of XP you are using, Professional or Home Edition, the procedure is the same.

How to find out so many bits for Windows 7 or Vista

These two operating systems are created on the same base, so their algorithm of actions is absolutely identical. Similar to the first case, for OS data, there are 2 ways to find out a 32 or 64-bit system:

1. Click the "Start" button, then type "system" in the search box. The search engine will offer you program options in the form of a list, select what you are looking for. In the window that opens, find the section called "System", carefully look at all the information in this section, in the "System Type" area, the number of bits of your OS will be displayed.
2. We press "Start", in the search bar we type "systems", in the list of suggested programs this time we find the option "System Information" and select it. In the window that appears, in the information area "System Type" we see a line that displays the characteristics of the OS and the number of bits, including.

How to determine the number of bits for Windows 8

This OS can be found not only on stationary computers and laptops, but also on tablets, smartphones and so on.

Distinctive feature portable devices is that they are all touch-sensitive and controlled with a finger. Regardless of this, the location of the main elements of Win 8 is preserved, so whether you use the mouse or your finger does not matter.

Move the mouse icon to the lower right corner of the screen, then click on the "Search" button. In the search bar, write "System", then click the mouse "Settings", then - "System". Next, find the line "System Type", here it will be displayed whether 32 or 64 bit is used in your case.

Similarly to the first option, we find the search string and write the following in it: “system information”. Next, select the designation "System", then "Details". Just like in the previous cases, in the "Type" field you will see whether your OS has 32 or 64 bits.

There is another way. On the desktop, find the "My Computer" icon, right-click on it. In the tab that appears, find the "Properties" item and click on it.

A window will appear with all the information on the OS installed on your computer, including here you will find the number of bits.

Some users (especially many fans of modern computer games) may be faced with the need to determine the bitness of their operating system. This may be due to the requirements of a number of programs for which only a certain OS is suitable, with the need to install drivers that are suitable only for a certain system, and so on. In this article, I will explain how to find out how many bits 32 or 64 Windows 7, 8, 10, XP, what methods exist for this and how to use them.

Before answering the question of how to determine how many bits are 32 or 64 Windows, you need to describe what bit depth is and what its specifics are. In this case, under the capacity is called the ability of a device to simultaneously process a certain number of discharges(bits, information). That is, the greater the bit depth of your processor, the more information it can process per unit of time, and the speed of your system definitely benefits from this.

There are currently two main versions of the Windows operating system:

• 32-bit (it is also called x86 - from the architecture of the I8086 microprocessor, which was once applied to 32-bit programs);
• 64-bit (x64) is a more modern and currently actively promoted version of the system.

The difference between them is not only in the bitness of the central processor, but also in the maximum supported RAM. A 32-bit (bit) OS can support a maximum of about 3.5 gigabytes of memory, and even if you install more memory, only the specified 3.5 gigabytes will be supported.

A 64-bit system can support much more (about 200 gigabytes), which greatly increases the capabilities of the computer. That said, the visual difference between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows is often minimal, if at all.

At the same time, for installing a 64-system, it is extremely important that CPU was 64-bit and supported the corresponding instructions. Otherwise, when installing a 64-bit OS on a 32-bit machine, you will not notice much difference, moreover, the 64-bit version will consume more PC resources due to its more extensive needs (which may negatively affect the speed of your OS). And this is not to mention the problem with drivers, because not all devices have drivers for a 64-bit OS. In general, there is something to think about here.

Ways to identify the bitness of the operating system

So, how to identify your 32-bit OS or 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 10, XP? I suggest doing the following:

How to find out how many bits are 32 or 64 Windows 7, 8, 10, XP - helper programs

In answering the question, "How to determine how many bits 32 or 64 Windows 7, 8, 10, XP" we can also help auxiliary programs designed to view the characteristics of your computer. I recommend that you pay attention to software products how EVEREST, Speccy, SiSoftware Sandra, System Spec and a number of others, after installing them on your computer you will receive detailed information about the stuffing of your PC, including information about the bit depth of your OS version.

Conclusion

In this article, I have considered options for how to find out how many bits 32 or 64 your Windows 7, 8, 10 or XP is. The most universal advice that works for almost all of the listed operating systems is to use the Win + Pause key combination, which will allow you to open access to system information, which will also indicate the bitness of your OS. If this option for some reason does not suit you, then you can use the alternatives described above, as well as use a number of utility programs designed specifically for the purposes I am considering.

In contact with

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

Windows 8 bit depth

There are 2 ways to determine Windows bit depth 8. If one method doesn't work, try another.

Method 1: Viewing the System Window of Control Panel

1. Type "System" in the search box and then tap or click Options.
2. Click the System icon.
3. If you have a 64-bit version of Windows 8 installed, the System type field in the system section will show this. And if you have a 32-bit version of Windows 8, it will indicate: 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're using a mouse, point to the lower right corner of the screen and click the Find button.
2. In the search field, enter "system information".
3. Click on "System", and then click on the "System Information" button.
4. The box under the item heading will say System Type Windows 8 64-bit. Or under the System Type heading, it will say Windows 8 32-bit.

Windows 7 bit depth

In the window that opens, find the item System type

Windows Vista bit depth

• Windows x64 - System Type will say "64-bit operating system"
• Windows x86 - System type will say "32-bit operating system"

Bit depth Windows XP

I note that the vast majority uses a 32-bit operating system.

Method 1

In the window that opens, find the item System

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

Method 2

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

Method 3

With this method, you will get full information about the system. Usually the question arises where it is written about the bit depth, 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 ways) 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 bit depth works.

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On the this moment There are two operating system bits:

32 bit;
64 bit.

How are they different, because they look the same ?! Their main differences are "hidden" in the processor architecture. Speaking in plain language, 64-bit systems can use twice as much operational data per cycle, which for ordinary users plays no role. There is another difference that already deserves the attention of users. The fact is that a 32-bit system supports a maximum of 3 GB of RAM, and a 64-bit one will see 16 GB of “RAM”.

My personal advice, if you have no more than 3 GB of RAM on your computer, then don't even "bother" and use a 32-bit system. It works more stable, at least Windows XP. Well, if you have 4 GB of “RAM” and higher, then you should already think about switching to a 64-bit system.
In this case, you will have the question "how to find out if the system is 32 or 64 bit"? There are a lot of ways, so we will consider only a few of the simplest ones.

Click Start - Run. In the window that opens, type the command "cmd" and press the "Enter" key.

A window will open on a black background with a command line. There, type the command "systeminfo" and press the "Enter" key. You will see a set of system information about your computer, there will be quite a few interesting things, up to the date of installation of your operating system! In the upper half, look for the line System type. It is in it that the answer to your question "how to find out a 32-bit or 64-bit system" lies. If there is an x86 number, then you have a 32 bit system. Well, if you see x64, then you are using a 64-bit operating system. The photo below shows that I use a 32-bit "piggy" on my computer.

It's even easier here. Click Start. There you will find the item "My Computer". Right-click on it and activate the "Properties" menu. The window will load as shown below.

Look again for the line "System Type". And a 32 or 64 bit system will be written in it.