Many will notice that, when you look in to an Modern OS like Windows XP and later, or any new versions of Linux, you may see there are 2 version on each, as x86 (32 bit) and x64 (64 bit). Many may wounder, what really these 2 are and which one to go for ?

I will try to explain a little, from an END user point a view, that why would one need Windows x64 or what change you may see from Windows x86 to Windows x64 as from an end user.

The 1st x64 end user processor came from AMD on 2003 as in Optron field, quickly followed in desktop range of their Athlon series as the brand name of AMD64. Intel Matched AMD in 2004 by their new Pentium 4 with their version of 64 architecture naming EM64T.

You may read more about the new Architecture of these products from these bellow links,

x86-64
Intel® 64 Architecture
AMD 64

Now days when you buy a Processors, Intel or AMD most of them would be x64 enabled. Intel Pentium 4 with EM64T, all Athlon 64, Intel Core 2 Duo and Dual core and AMD x2 they all come with the x64 support.

What Happens in Software front ??

x64 (64 bit) architecture initially meant for Server front, as x64 is far far better in Memory reading and memory allocation than their counter part of x86 (32 bit) architecture.

Because for higher processing power, servers would need more memory support, x64 platform would support more than 128GB of RAM and upto 512 TB of Page File.

Later on as hardware became cheap and desktop market grew 64 bit platform was targeted toward the Computer professional users like 3d graphics developers, high end media uses, and profession gamers too.

A 32 bit application can only use 4 GB of RAM (3GB per process) at a time where as 64 a bit application can use full available RAM (up to 128GB).

Please note, what ever happens, happens in Background, there are no visual change or improvement in software GUI (Graphical User Interface), meaning Windows XP Pro x64 (64 bit) and and Windows XP pro x86 (32 bit) would look the same and would operate as same. Same can be said with any OS, like Windows Vista/ Windows Server 2003 / or any windows, same with Linux too.

Do you need Windows x64 ??

Note, Windows x64 is costlier than Windows 32 bit versions. so, make sure that you will really need x64 platform before making the Switch.

Check List before making the switch

Supported Hardware

1st of all a 64 bit processor.
Device Drivers which support Windows x64 versions.

Suppose you have one EM64T Processor but that doesn’t mean your sound card do support Windows x64, so quickly run through the supported OS list of your Motherboard, Sound devices, Graphics cards and other device drivers.

Note all chipset after Intel 915 and Nividia 500 or Via K8 would support Windows x64 so motherboard based on that would have support for Windows X64.

Atleast of 256 MB (XP/Server 2003) of RAM and 512 MB for Vista and Server 2008…

Where as though these x64 (64 bit) Operating System will run fine with low amount of RAM but its not worth to make the switch. Think for x64 platform when you have ram greater than 3 GB and dedicated Graphics card with 256/512 MB or more. Under those circumstances Windows x64 (64 bit) will perform better than Windows X86 (32 bit).

Will your 32 bit Software run under Windows x64 (64 bit) platform ??

There is a question that pops under every mind that, will my 32 bit (x86) software run under x64 (64 bit) Windows platform ??

Windows x64 comes with a technology called WOW64. WOW64 (Windows-on-Windows 64-bit) is a subsystem of the Windows operating system that is capable of running 32-bit applications. So all 32 bit (x86 platform) softwares can run under 64 bit Windows (x64 platform).

Note, Device drivers cant be used with WOW64. Anti virus softwares cant be used with WOW64. So for Drivers and anti virus software you are in need for their x64 / 64 bit versions. Now days all Major antivirus and security softwares supports x64 windows.

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