[EdLUG] How to tell if a computer is 32 bit or 64 bit

Fri Jul 29 17:39:37 UTC 2016

> My Core2 Duo is 64 bit, my understanding is that you need 4GB+ Ram to make full use of 64 bit. 

Not true!

 >32bit addressing merely allow one to access higher amounts of memory directly.

I say “directly" because one can use a 32bit processor to access >4GB RAM through Physical Address Extension (which is available in Linux).

I also say >32bit rather than 64bit because your 64bit processor (probably) does not use all 64 bits for addressing memory!

You might assume that a pointer in *your programming language* will be 64bits on a 64bit system, but if you do

    $ less /proc/cpuinfo

And look for a line like this:

address sizes   : 46 bits physical, 48 bits virtual

You can learn the true bit length used for memory addressing.

That’s not to say this will be exposed to you as a user or programmer unless you like to write your own microcode.

- Johnny

http://jmorrice.teoma.io/ <http://jmorrice.teoma.io/>
> On 29 Jul 2016, at 09:59, Edinburgh Linux Users Group <edlug at lists.edlug.org.uk> wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 7:26 AM, Edinburgh Linux Users Group <edlug at lists.edlug.org.uk <mailto:edlug at lists.edlug.org.uk>> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I was just given a notebook and am trying to tell if it is 32 bit or 64 bit.  It is a hp elitebook 6930p running Microsoft Windows 7.  Here is the manual:
> 
> http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/psi/manualsResults/?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_e97ce00a6f76436cc859bfdeb053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3Daction%253Dmanualslist%257Ccontentid%253DHardware-Reference%257Clang%253Den&javax.portlet.tpst=e97ce00a6f76436cc859bfdeb053ce01&sp4ts.oid=3688868&ac.admitted=1469773060453.1123376534.199480143 <http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/psi/manualsResults/?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_e97ce00a6f76436cc859bfdeb053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3Daction%253Dmanualslist%257Ccontentid%253DHardware-Reference%257Clang%253Den&javax.portlet.tpst=e97ce00a6f76436cc859bfdeb053ce01&sp4ts.oid=3688868&ac.admitted=1469773060453.1123376534.199480143>
> 
> The ROM date in the bios is 9/11/2009, which I am thinking is rather early for 64 bit.  It is an Intel Core2 Duo 8700 chip.  I am getting ready to install GNU-Linux, and I want to use Lubuntu if it is a 32 bit machine, but Ubuntu if it is a 64 bit machine.  Thanks for helping me to figure this out!
> 
> 
> My Core2 Duo is 64 bit, my understanding is that you need 4GB+ Ram to make full use of 64 bit. 
> 
> Subhi 
> 
> -- 
> Subhi S Hashwa
> When everything is heading your way, you're in the wrong lane.
> 
> Are you on LinkedIn ? Connect with me! http://linkedin.com/in/subhi <http://linkedin.com/in/subhi>_______________________________________________
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