Quote:
Originally Posted by exceed1
I was wondering how one can tell if a computer is 64-bit or 32-bit.
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The important thing is the size of virtual addresses, which are 32-bit on a "32-bit computer". How big they are on a "64-bit computer" is a trickier question, but anyway bigger than 32-bit.
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Is it only the type of processor that determines if the computer can handle 64-bit applications
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The way I would describe it is the type of OS kernel determines whether the computer can handle 64-bit applications. The type of processor determines whether the computer can handle a 64-bit OS kernel.
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or is it other parts of the computer as well ?
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I've read the claim that the BIOS must also have some support specific to 64-bit kernels. I'm not convinced that is true. But as I've never seen a 64-bit capable CPU plugged into a motherboard designed for non 64-bit capable CPU's, I have no first hand knowledge (a motherboard intended for 64-bit would have a BIOS intended for 64-bit).
Anyway, ordinary computer parts (memory, disk, graphics adapters, network adapters, etc.) don't need to be different for 64-bit.
The drivers (software) for graphics etc. do need to be different for a 64-bit kernel. So your old graphic card's hardware has no incompatibility with 64-bit but the 64-bit driver (especially for Windows) might not exist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stabu
in linux the command uname -a will give you abundant info on your CPU type.
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No. That tells you your OS kernel type, not your CPU type. That does answer the original question regarding "64-bit applications". If you have a 64-bit kernel you can run 64-bit applications and for typical Linux distributions you can also run 32-bit applications. If you have a 32-bit kernel, you cannot run 64-bit applications.
If you have a 32-bit kernel, try
cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep flags
If the output includes lm then you have a cpu that could run a 64-bit kernel even if it happens to be running a 32-bit kernel now.
The system I just checked includes both lm and lahf_lm. I don't remember what lahf_lm means. The one that means 64-bit capable is just lm.