64-bit 32-bit Processor?

Posted on March 26, 2010

Here are 2 simple methods to check whether the processor in your laptop/ computer is a 32 bit one or a 64 bit one:-

METHOD 1

Use CPU-Z tool

  1. Step
    1

    Download the CPU-Z tool. This tool gathers details about your system components.

  1. Step
    2

    Install it.

  1. Step
    3

    Run it.

  1. Step
    4

    The CPU-Z window appears. Check this location:-

CPU tab > Processor section > Instructions – you should see the following:-

EM64T – In case of Intel 64-bit processor.
AMD64 or X86-64 – In case of 64-bit AMD processors.

There will be no such details in case of a 32 bit processor. Refer snapshots below:-

CPU-Z - 64 bit Intel processor CPU-Z - 64 bit AMD processor CPU-Z tool - 32 bit processor

METHOD 2

Check the manufacturer site (Not a very techie sort of method! But nonetheless, it’s effective…)

  1. Step
    1

    Click Start. Right click on My Computer. Click on Properties. (Windows XP) OR Click Start. Right click on Computer. Click on Properties. (Windows Vista)

  1. Step
    2

    Details about your processor should be displayed on the window that appears, in the General tab, under Computer:. In the 1st snapshot below, the processor used is Intel E7300.

  1. Step
    3

    Look for the processor details in the manufacturer site (a simple Google search should get you there). In Intel’s website, you should see something like:

Instruction Set – 64-bit
or
Instruction Set – 32-bit

Refer snapshots below:-

64 bit processor manufacturer site 32 bit processor manufacturer site

Some websites suggest that you check the Registry at the location:- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0 to find whether the processor used is a 32 or 64 bit processor. This method may NOT always be helpful.

These sites say that if the Identifier key in this location, has a value like Intel64 then it is a 64 bit processor. But this may not be the case always. In the adjacent snapshot, the processor used is the Intel E7300, which is a 64-bit processor. The Identifier value however shows “X86″. This just indicates that the operating system used is a 32 bit one. Using Registry for finding 32-64 bit processor is not helpful

Filed under How To

Comments

2 Responses to “64-bit 32-bit Processor?”
  1. dsp_relax says:
    December 6, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    Linux Find If Processor / CPU is 64 bit / 32 bit ( long mode ~ lm ) -

  2. Easy_Notebooks says:
    January 5, 2011 at 7:08 am

    Intel's next-gen chip arrives, with Hollywood in tow: Chip giant's '2nd Generation Intel Core' processor family …

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