Windows Nomenclature.....

Despite being fairly PC savvy, I've run into a nomenclature problem whilst trying to trick some runarounds on my system.

So... at the risk of sounding really stupid............

What is the difference between the following references:

Windows 32bit
Windows x64
Windows x86

??

I'm running XP Pro, SP2. ... if that's relevant.

Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

 

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stands for number of bus bits. all versions of windows from win98se on is 32 bit

again, number of bus bits.

x86 stands for the intel family of processors 286, 386, 486 etc.

means you're really confused.

not for the definitions.

okay

so long.

 

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Allow me to rephrase then...


Lets say I was going to d/l and install a MS app.. saaaaay.... Windows Defender....

Which one do I d/l?

 

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x86 is 32 bits. If you had a 64 bit Windows, you would need a 64-bit processor, and you would probably know it if you did.

32-bit apps will work on a 64 bit OS, but apps written specifically for a 64-bit processor won't work on the 32-bit windows.

YOu might as well download the 32 bit version, since x86 is probably referring to pre-XP versions.

 

There are two different versions - 64-bit and 32-bit. Most people have the 32-bit version. If you had the 64-bit version, you would definetely know it wasn't the same version.

 

x86 or 80x86 is the generic name of a microprocessor architecture, first developed and manufactured by Intel.
The architecture is called x86 because the earliest processors in this family were identified by model numbers ending in the sequence "86": the 8086, the 80186, the 80286, the 386, the 486,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86

 

James R?! Windows XP isn't 64-bits, it's only 32

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You can buy a 64-bit version but it's not that reliable and doesn't support many of the drivers available. Vista is 64-bit but from what I see they aren't selling anything but the 32-bit version through OEM manufacterers like Dell, HP. That makes it kinda stupid to get Vista right now, unless you can opt for the 64-bit version.

 

Wrong. The 64 bit version is available through plenty of vendors. And it's not stupid at all to get 32 bit Vista. What makes you say so?

There are still many problems with hardware drivers for 64 bit operating systems so for the majority of users, it would be best to get 32 bit Vista.