how to identify whether a system is 32 or 64 bit

gsr_kashyap · 04-10-2006, 12:08 AM

hi everyone,
can any one tell how to identify a computer whether it is 32 or 64 bit box. any way will do.

paragn · 04-10-2006, 12:28 AM

hi,
simple if u have gcc then just type gcc -v and check for --host info

cs-cam · 04-10-2006, 01:08 AM

uname -m

Not sure if that returns the machines arch or the arch the kernel was built for though.

gsr_kashyap · 04-10-2006, 01:16 AM

is there any possible way to know before installing any OS??

paragn · 04-10-2006, 01:38 AM

hi,
how can you come to know without checking cd's on any other OS?? about Fedora core and RHEL i can say that just open installation cds and check names of rpm's that will have i386 for 32bit and x86_64 for 64bit

jillande · 04-10-2006, 02:01 AM

uname -m, gcc -v and such will return information related to the installed system, not necessarily the hardware.

without an os, or if you suspect a system that reports as 32-bit might actually be 64-bit hardware, the only method i can think of would be to look in bios for information. at the very least, you could see what the processor is (or less /proc/cpuinfo if you have linux installed already) to deduce whether it is 64-bit.

mickyg · 04-11-2006, 11:00 AM

Surely 'less /proc/cpuinfo' from a liveCD would be easiest way?? No installation would be needed and you wouldn't have to needlessly take the PC apart to see the processor.

paragn · 04-11-2006, 02:29 PM

hi,
i dont think /proc/cpuinfo will give info. I check it on my system which is 32 bit OS on 64 bit arch

Quote:

processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 15
model : 4
model name : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz
stepping : 3
cpu MHz : 3192.546
cache size : 2048 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 3
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe lm pni monitor ds_cpl est cid xtpr
bogomips : 6388.06

tormented_one · 04-11-2006, 03:45 PM

Um Pentium 4 gives it away though. Here's mine

processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 15
model : 39
model name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+
stepping : 1
cpu MHz : 2310.133
cache size : 1024 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 1
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow pni lahf_lm
bogomips : 4624.02

gsr_kashyap · 04-11-2006, 11:56 PM

ok guys that was really good effort i would like to know that can we find it in BIOS is that possible ?? i have checked in some of the BIOS but no luck :-(

tormented_one · 04-12-2006, 09:16 PM

Maybe, maybe not, Depends on which bios is used.

gsr_kashyap · 04-13-2006, 02:05 AM

so any one can tell which BIOS gives the info??

archtoad6 · 04-17-2006, 12:08 PM

Isn't it there on the POST screen?

scheidel21 · 04-22-2006, 06:42 PM

crack the case and look at the cpu its that simple. ps if there are cryptic numbers a google will help you decipher what you have. btw when you got it how did you not know then?

gsr_kashyap · 04-24-2006, 01:09 AM

hey scheidel21, thats what i want to know where do i get the info and how do i confirm it before loading any OS, how identify whether it's 32 or 64bit box.??