Is AMD64 X2 4200+ a 64bit processor?

[shikari shambu]

Hi,
I have a HP Pavilion a1357c which has AMD64 X2 4200+ processor. My
understanding is that it is a 64bit processor.

My machine is running Windows XP Media Center edition. I am thinking
of upgrading to Vista 64bit Ultimate.

In reviewing the requirements for 64bit Ultimate, Microsoft says the
way to tell if the processor is 64bit is by

1) Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and click
Properties.
2) Click the Advanced tab.
3) Click Environment Variables.
4) In the "System variables" list at the bottom of the Environment
Variables window, look for a variable called "PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE".
If your PC has a 32-bit processor, this variable will have a value of
"x86". If it has a 64-bit processor this variable will have a value of
"x64".

My machine shows this as "x86" not "x64". Is the processor a 32bit
processor?

Please help.

TIA
shambu

 

[Old Guy]

Hi,
I have a HP Pavilion a1357c which has AMD64 X2 4200+ processor. My
understanding is that it is a 64bit processor.

My machine is running Windows XP Media Center edition. I am thinking
of upgrading to Vista 64bit Ultimate.

In reviewing the requirements for 64bit Ultimate, Microsoft says the
way to tell if the processor is 64bit is by

1) Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and click
Properties.
2) Click the Advanced tab.
3) Click Environment Variables.
4) In the "System variables" list at the bottom of the Environment
Variables window, look for a variable called "PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE".
If your PC has a 32-bit processor, this variable will have a value of
"x86". If it has a 64-bit processor this variable will have a value of
"x64".

My machine shows this as "x86" not "x64". Is the processor a 32bit
processor?

Please help.

TIA
shambu

Yes.

 

[Old Guy]

Yes.

At least "yes" its a dual core 64-bit processor.

Why are you considering going to Vista? Changing to Vista is not an
upgrade its a migration to crap.

 

[shikari shambu]

At least "yes" its a dual core 64-bit processor.

Why are you considering going to Vista? Changing to Vista is not an
upgrade its a migration to crap.

Garbage Theory states - new crap stinks less than old crap.

 

[Old Guy]

Garbage Theory states - new crap stinks less than old crap.

This time the new crap sinks worse out of the box than the old crap ever
did.

 

[Benjamin Gawert]

* shikari shambu:

I have a HP Pavilion a1357c which has AMD64 X2 4200+ processor. My
understanding is that it is a 64bit processor.

Correct. Hence the "64" in "AMD64" ;-)

My machine is running Windows XP Media Center edition. I am thinking
of upgrading to Vista 64bit Ultimate.

What for? Of course there are reasons why one would want Vista always
except some rare cases the 32bit version is still the far better choice.
Do you have 4GB or more of RAM and some native x64 applications? If not
then better go with 32bit Vista. Less hazzle, and much more hardware
drivers available...

Benjamin

 

[Bob Fry]

ss> My machine is running Windows XP Media Center edition. I am
ss> thinking of upgrading to Vista 64bit Ultimate.

Like others, I wouldn't consider this an upgrade. Make it dual boot.
I tried XP Pro x64 and half my peripherals didn't have drivers, plus
it would BSOD every few days which I attribute to problems with the
drivers I did find. Finally I started over, made a dual boot x86/x64
system, all my peripherals work again and no BSODs.

I've heard that Vista x64 has more drivers available, but still...make
a dual boot.

 

[Guest]

ss> My machine is running Windows XP Media Center edition. I am
ss> thinking of upgrading to Vista 64bit Ultimate.

Like others, I wouldn't consider this an upgrade. Make it dual boot.
I tried XP Pro x64 and half my peripherals didn't have drivers, plus
it would BSOD every few days which I attribute to problems with the
drivers I did find. Finally I started over, made a dual boot x86/x64
system, all my peripherals work again and no BSODs.

I've heard that Vista x64 has more drivers available, but still...make
a dual boot.

I get 99% of 64-bit drivers. My prime reason for Vista is the 64-bit deal.
The only downside is that my sound card (one of the main things I use) does
not have 64-bit drivers. The DX10 not supporting sound is now a problem. I
have to see how the drivers will do things. I just had the trial. I was
going to buy until the thing about the soundcard. I will wait until EMu
works it out.

 

[Duke]

We have XP64 os.

I get 99% of 64-bit drivers. My prime reason for Vista is the 64-bit
deal. The only downside is that my sound card (one of the main things I
use) does not have 64-bit drivers. The DX10 not supporting sound is now a
problem. I have to see how the drivers will do things. I just had the
trial. I was going to buy until the thing about the soundcard. I will
wait until EMu works it out.

 

[Art]

Hi,
I have a HP Pavilion a1357c which has AMD64 X2 4200+ processor. My
understanding is that it is a 64bit processor.

My machine is running Windows XP Media Center edition. I am thinking
of upgrading to Vista 64bit Ultimate.

In reviewing the requirements for 64bit Ultimate, Microsoft says the
way to tell if the processor is 64bit is by

1) Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and click
Properties.
2) Click the Advanced tab.
3) Click Environment Variables.
4) In the "System variables" list at the bottom of the Environment
Variables window, look for a variable called "PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE".
If your PC has a 32-bit processor, this variable will have a value of
"x86". If it has a 64-bit processor this variable will have a value of
"x64".

My machine shows this as "x86" not "x64". Is the processor a 32bit
processor?

Please help.

TIA
shambu

It is a 64 bit chip.

As for Vista, I have X2s and run Vista 32-bit on them. I saw no need to go
to 64 as I don't use apps that take advantage of it. My experience has been
great upgrading 4 machines from XP Pro to Vista Home Premium. The only
problem I ran into was a printer that is mucho, mucho years old (a
multi-function).

Art

 

[Jason]

It is a 64 bit chip.

As for Vista, I have X2s and run Vista 32-bit on them. I saw no need to
go to 64 as I don't use apps that take advantage of it. My experience
has been great upgrading 4 machines from XP Pro to Vista Home Premium.
The only problem I ran into was a printer that is mucho, mucho years old
(a multi-function).

Art

On the flip side, I have a 4600 x2, 2GB memory and am running 64bit
Vista with no problems... only one driver not found, and that was for a
Gigabyte wireless network card. All my 32 bit apps run with no problems.
I would recommend, however, that you check that your motherboard and
periphs have 64 bit drivers available BEFORE going the 64 bit route )

jj

 

[noway]

Only thing microsoft could say about it themselves is 'it's more
entertaining'.

I don't need my operating system to be more entertaining, I need it to run
my applications.

Save your money, don't buy into this garbage.

 

[Carlo Razzeto]

It's more secure for home users, which is the whole point of vista. If
you're a gamer or power user (and not a web-developer) then yeah, sticking
with XP for now is best. Vista pwns in webdevelopment since IIS actually
allows for multiple websites, something you can't do in XP Pro much to my
annoyance.

Carlo

 

[Bob Fry]

CR> It's more secure for home users,
For the utterly naive home user, I agree. But even then not much more
secure.

CR> which is the whole point of
CR> vista.

Far from the whole point.