How to Check If My Processor is x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) in Windows?
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Up until this point you might not have wondered to check if your processor is x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) as almost no one used 64-bit in Windows XP and when Vista came, most were cautious about the drivers and compatibility with 64-bit processor including me but I think its time everybody moves to 64-bit processing for Windows 7.
Windows 7 is here and you have to make a decision to go for 32-bit or 64-bit before you upgrade from XP or Vista to Windows 7 and I recommend you going for 64-bit.
But why? First let’s see what exactly these numbers 32 and 64 represent. These numbers 32-bit and 64-bit represent the Data Bus width that are between the Memory (RAM) and the Processor. Obviously you can see that 64-bit has the capability of carrying data twice the width of 32-bit. If you were using 32-bit Vista so far, you would have seen the maximum memory it can realize is 3 GB (though you have 4GB) but with 64-bit Windows you can realize much higher (It was 128 GB with 64-bit Vista). Also, in days to come having more than 4 GB will become a standard and developers and service providers will have to give support and drivers for 64-bit processors. So it’s wise to invest in 64-bit processor and OS at this point in time!
So you have an old Windows XP or Vista computer and now how do you find if your processor is 64-bit capable?
There are different ways to find if your computer processor is 64-bit capable:
Method 1: Easy Method!
Go to Start -> Right click on Computer -> Click Properties. Click on Windows Experience Index.
Now click on View and Print detailed performance and system information.
Here you will be able to see the current system type, number of processor core and if it is 64-bit capable. Note: If you are already running 64-bit processor, it will show in the current system type and you will not see if it is 64-bit capable or not.
If you feel a bit geeky then you can use the following methods to find if your processor is 64-bit:
Method 2: Using Regedit
Go to Start -> Type regedit
Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0
From ProcessorNameString you will be able to see the name of your processor and from Identifier you will see the family of the processor and if it has 64 then it is 64-bit capable.
Method 3: Using MSINFO32
Go to Start -> Type msinfo32.exe
From the System Information page under System Type you will find as x64-based PC.
Method 4: Using CPUZ
CPUZ is a small utility which gives all information about your CPU (Processor), Cache, Mainboard, Memory, SPD etc.
Under Instructions from CPU tab, if you see EM64T (if its Intel) or AMD64 (if its AMD) then your processor is 64-bit capable. 
So are you using 32-bit or 64-bit processor and which OS are you using. If you are having 32-bit Windows, will you consider going for 64-bit OS, let us know in the comments.
Can’t you just right click My Computer and hit properties -.-
Thank you very much Mr. Byte for the great help coz i had been struggling a lot to know whether my system supports 64 bit. According to ur method 1 and 4 it shows my system is 64 bit capable. However with the method 2 and 3 it seems to be 32 bit. i am now more confused. i too have windows 7 7127 (32 bit). I am wondering to upgrade to windows 7 7600 64 bit. Can u plz help??
@selkies, 1 and 4 are the most definitive method. Thanks for pointing it out, I actually took the screen shot for 2 and 3 after upgrading from 32-bit Windows 7 to 54-bit Windows 7. From what you have told, you have 64-bit capable processor.
Soon I’ll write an article for upgrading from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows 7.
Ack! This is just the exaxt question I had, but I don’t have my answer yet which is how do I get my processor from 32 bit to 64 bit now that I’ve up graded my software to Windows 7 64 bit. In one way it seems to recognize my 4 gigs of ram, but it’s only showing a physical memory of 2.7
Should include methods for Windows XP users as well.
And btw, System Information, Regedit both showed x86-System, whereas CPUz showed EM64T. for my Q9400.
Thus, it means (to me) that you cannot check it within Windows, using Windows own tools. It just reflects the OPERATING SYSTEM that is already INSTALLED. And not the real chip capability.
Thus said, only CPUz shows the correct information. Maybe with Vista as well, but as far as I am concerned, definitely not with Windows XP.
@Melvyn, Thanks for pointing that out. I’ll have it updated.
@Jjjnmkhkahkjsdn…watever..
i dont know what OS you’re runnin..but “my computer right click go to properties” doesnt have the info im lookin for..
anyway, this article helped me in identifying my system type..thanks!
Hey, CPU-Z is very reliable and it gives consistent results…i use vista and all the other methods only show the operating systems installed….
So i used CPU-Z and it said at the description at the end X86-64. Does it mean that my cpu is 64bit compatible?
thanks for the info hard to find out whether im using 64 bit capable PC.
i think when it says x86/x64 based system it may mean the OS since mine was x86 based system but my processor was 64 bit capable
Hello
its obveous that my CPU is 32-bit
and i’ve recently upgraded to Windows7
but my OS is 64-bit, and im sure of it.
is this possible?
if so, what drivers shall i use for my hardware? 32 or 64 bit?
Hello Mr.Byte
first of all i am immensely thankfull for Your valuable information,
i have Windows Vista 32-bit OS and intel core 2 duo processor,
i used all methods, in Method 1 it showed that 64-bit capable but, in method 2 it shows x86 family and in method 3 it shows x86 based pc.
in method 4 it shows EM64T
now i dont know exactly which processor type is it? is it 32-bit or 64-bit(as per some hardware books after pintium4 processor all are 64-bit)
and one important question now that my system detecting 64-bit capable, can i upgrade to 64-bit Vista and what are the drawbacks if any.
regards
thanks i have same problem
Hello Mr.Byte,
first of all i immensely thankfull for ur great information, I have a notebook with Vista 32-bit os and Intel core 2 duo processor.
i’ve tried all the above methods in Method 1 it shows64-bit capable and in Method 4 also it shows under instructions EM64T;
but in Method 2 it shows x86 family and in Method 3 it shows x86 based pc.
now i dont know what exactly my processor is?
is it 64-bit width? or 32-bit width?(according to some books after p4 processor all are 64-bit)
and finally one another important question as my system detects 64-bit capable can i Upgrade from Vista 32-bit to 64-bit if so what are the conditions and disadvantages with that if any.
regards
if i have 64-bit capable processor but not 64-bit processor can i use
64-bit Os such as Vista and 7
so
what are the advantages and disadvantages?
thansk
I have DUAL CORE processor, and the registry and msinfo (in Windows Seven) say it is x86 architecture – BUT in CPU-Z I see the instructions includes EM64T (my processor is E6300), which indicates to me it is 64 bit capable and that I should uninstall from W7 32 bit and go to the 64 bit option instead…is that right?
Damn this information is so good . . . . .
thanks a lot . . . i now know whats the difference of the three. .
thanx . . .
I have the same problem as you Ken it says x86/64 in CPU-Z and i’m getting confused by that. Send me a mail if you find out what it means. thanks
if you’re OS is 64 bit obviously your CPU is 64 bit capable. It’s impossible for a 32 bit only chip to run 64 bit software. The bit refer to the maximum size of information that are transferred over the bus during one signal. 32 bit is 4 bytes and 64 bit is 8 bytes. I would go through to the system information and also CPUz and confirm this. If you’re computer was running 32 bit OS before it probably is still running 32 bit unless you configured it to run 64 bit.
Mr.Byte
Thanks for the clear tutorial,
by every method my CPU appears to be 32 bit
but Intel spec. for this CPU (E8400) is 64 bit
is it because the OS is 32?
For those who still confused when all 4 methods shows different result, you can always download linux live cd with 64bit kernel such as the latest Ubuntu 9.10 64bit. Burn it on a CD and boot from it. If the linux kicks in, then it answers your uncertainties.
i have HP pavilion 2500 with vista .I have installed windows 7 and now my web cam is not working.In device manager my cam is not showing up.What can I do to resolve this problem?
Hi All,
All these methods are OS based, i.e. if you are using a 32 bit OS, the method 2 and 3 would pick up the information based on the OS your PC is working on. Similarly, in case of an upgrade (as Mr. Byte did), this information would change accordingly. Hence, there is no exact way of knowing this while working on OS.
The only sure shot way to know the processor capability is to actually look at the hardware, i.e. your CPU and there will a manufacturer label where it would be mentioned as x86 or x64.
Guess that should resolve all the confusions.
Thanks
I will not use 64bit even though I have a 64bit capable cpu because finding 64bit driver is a crazy task to undertake and programs probably won’t work/install on 64bit OS
I’m getting mixed messages with my cpu, half the methods i’ve used only say x86 based yet the others say x64 compatible and everytime i’ve tried to install it crashes before it loads up. I’m running a prescott 3.6ghz on an msi 7176 (yes i am aware of how old it is lol) with 3g 667mhz ram and an asus 9800gt
Thanks for putting this guide up because I was recently advised by my PC manufacturer that I could run 64 bit OSes on my computer and when the install didn’t work, they blamed me, saying I had made my 32 bit install of XP Pro buggy, and that it would cost me 60 pounds to get over-the-phone instructions on how to debug that. Your easy guide helped me find out that my system is INDEED x86 and not x64 so thank you and sod them. I’m going to demand a refund on that tech support that I don’t need.
C
I also need help. I look under my computer and properties and it says i have a 32 bit os and x64 dual processor. I know little about computers but the printer I have has to bet set up on a 62 bit os. How can I be sure. Is it the actual OS I am looking at or the processor?
Very good help on locating 64 bit information on older system.
i’ve been using windows xp up to this point, because i thought vista was rather awful. now i was wondering if i should get the windows 7 64-bit. my only worry is that my computer might not be 64-bit compatible, as my xp is a 32-bit version.
based on the cpu-z results, my computer has 2gb ddr2 sdram memory, a 500gb hard drive, and an nvidia graphics card with 512mb. my processor is the intel core 2 duo e8600 @ 3.33ghz. I checked the instructions and it says ‘MMX, SSE (1, 2, 3S, 4.1), EM64T, VT-x’.
i’m basically just copying out bits of the report. doesn’t really make much sense. should i stick to xp or change to windows 7? thanks.
Please help me
I have a question
is that I have an intel board with a model with a processing fee DG945GCLF intel atom
then I wanted to upgrade to a 64-bit Windows operating system but did not know if he resisted well to visit your page and at first I was excited because in the control panel told me it was compatible with 64 bit but when using the method you mentioned me REGEDIT x86 is so I wonder:
If you tell me that x86 is 32 bit then.
that tells me my pc is compatible with 64 bits? please help
notifies you before you answer that you investigate and tell me that x86 is updated for 64 bit x86.
my pc is perhaps one of them?
remember it is a model intel atom processor DG945GCLF believe that with this data you created your image in the mind … (small pc is intel market bag) Please respond and Thanks .. thank you very much
my pc is 64 bit system thank u very much
dear sir,
exactly i want to learn to my pc. is 64 bit or 32 bit .
Beware !!!!
To be 100% sure you must expose your CPU get the numbers and go to Intel or AMD and get its spec.
The methods above will not give a 100% answer. Using detection tools is only good if you use a pro diags tool with up to date ref tables.
Hello.. Mr.Byte
Well… i have a laptop its Acer 5920G intel core2due processor 1.5 Ghz and 2GB Ram with 256 Nvidia Graphic Card do you recommend me installing Windows 7 64Bit?
Waiting for you kind reply
Thks for help i have checked it by typing msinfo32.exe i cam to know that my pc is x86 based…
Be careful with installing a 64 bit OS if you are currently running a 32 bit OS. There are still (unbelievable as it sounds) many programs that just don’t work well, or work at all, under the 64 bit OS. Good examples are Flash and Java. When you load a 64 bit Windows system, the load process will automatically load both a 32 and 64 bit version of IE. Now the 32 bit version of IE will be your default and there is no way (other than registry tweaks) to make the 64 bit version the default. After using both, you will not WANT the 64 bit version to be default, mostly because Flash just does not work. (BTW, Firefox only comes in 32 bit) But here is the catch: Say that IE is your default browser, if you click a link in a 64 bit program, like Outlook, it will open the 64 bit IE. Can be a PITA. You end up copying the URL and manually opening the 32 bit IE. Yeah, great eh? NOT! You will have 2 program libraries. One named “Program Files” the other “Program Files (x86)”. Guess which one will end up having the most programs in it? The old x86, because most of your programs will be 32 bit. So be careful, you may be a little disappointed. I personally run a dual boot with 2 versions of Windows 7, 32 and 64 bit. The only advantage of 64 bit today is that it will recognize an almost unlimited amount of RAM while the 32 bit only sees about 3.25 (or so) gig. I’ve got 12 gig on my rig and honestly, it does not make a huge difference in normal surfing, but it does help a lot with games and some resource hogs like Photoshop. You’ll shave off some time in video editing depending on the program. So the dual boot system (if you have the disk space) is the ideal right now.
thanks i learn some new here
Thank you very much, its very informative
Thanks you once again
kishroe
Thanks for the article Mr. Byte.
It seems that your 4th method is the most accurate one (and it works for any operating system), so why don’t you just discard methods 1 to 3?
Another surefire way to find out what the CPU is capable of is……by going to the manufacturer’s site!
For example, mine is the Intel Q6600, and typing “Q6600″ at Google gives me this page:
http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2quad/specifications.htm
and the table immediately tells me that the Q6600 is 64-bit capable
CPUZ rulz thx…..!!
Well,
Method 1. = Yes (capable)
Method 2. = x86 Family
Method 3. = 32-bit based
Method 4. = same as yours.
I got Intel core 2 duo t5750 @ 2ghz
should i go 64?