Rookie Primer: Windows 7 and Win XP 32-bit and 64-bit differences

x86 is the standard abbreviation for Intel processor-based systems. X has nothing to do with the processor, it is a simple wildcard definition for all *86 systems, a serial number of Intel general-purpose computers, and a common set of computer instructions, since early Intel's CPU numbers are numbered as 8086,80286, Because this entire series of CPUs are instruction-compatible, so use X86 to identify the set of instructions used today Pentium, P2,P4, Celeron series are supporting the X86 command system, so all belong to the X86 family.

Here the 64-bit technology is relative to the 32-bit, which refers to CPU GPRs (general-purpose registers, general-purpose registers) of the data width of 64 bits, 64-bit instruction set is to run 64-bit data instructions, That means the processor can run 64bit of data at a time. 64bit processors are not now available, and in high-end RISC (reduced instruction set Computing, the compact instruction set computer) has a 64bit processor early, such as Sun's Ultrasparcⅲ, IBM's POWER5, HP company Alpha, and so on.

Simply put, x86 represents a 32-bit operating system x64 represents a 64-bit operating system.

64bit computing has two major advantages: a larger range of integer operations, which can support larger memory. Not because of the changes in numbers, but simply that the 64bit processor performance is twice times the performance of 32bit processors. In fact, in 32bit applications, the 32bit processor performance is even stronger, even the 64bit processor, the current situation is also under the 32bit application performance is stronger. So to recognize the advantages of 64bit processor, but not superstitious 64bit.

To achieve the real sense of the 64-bit calculation, the light has 64-bit processor is not good, but also must have 64-bit operating system and 64-bit application software to do, three indispensable, lack of any one of the elements can not achieve 64-bit calculation. Currently, in 64-bit processors, both Intel and AMD processors have released multiple series of 64-bit processors, while the current situation is not optimistic about operating systems and software applications. Because the 64-bit operating system that really suits personal use is now only Windows XP X64, and Windows XP X64 itself is a transitional 64-bit operating system that will be eliminated after Windows Vista is released, and Windows XP X64 itself is not perfect, ease of use, an obvious example is a variety of hardware device drivers are very imperfect, and now 64-bit application software is still basically not, it is true that the hardware manufacturers and software vendors are not willing to work for a transitional nature of the operating system to write drivers and software applications. So if you want to achieve a real 64-bit calculation, I'm afraid it will have to wait until Windows Vista has been popularized for some time.

The 64-bit technologies currently used by mainstream CPUs include AMD's AMD64 technology, Intel's EM64T technology, and Intel's IA-64 technology. IA-64 is an independent development of intel, incompatible with today's traditional 32-bit computers, only for Itanium (Itanium) and subsequent products Itanium 2, which is not commonly covered by the general user, so here is a brief introduction to AMD64 technology and Intel's EM64T technology.

AMD64 bit Technology

The AMD64 bit technique is to add the x86-64 extended 64-bit X86 instruction set based on the original 32-bit X86 instruction set. Making this chip compatible with the original 32-bit X86 software on the hardware, and supporting the X86-64 's extended 64-bit calculation, makes the chip a truly 64-bit X86 chip. This is a true 64-bit standard, x86-64 with 64-bit addressing capabilities.