32&64 bit OS & CPU

Sat321

New member
So basically what google told me:

-32 bit cpus can address up to 4gb of memory (2^32)

-64 bit cpus can address a lot more (2^64)

Is that true at all ?

What I thought :

CPU socket includes data lines, address lines and control lines.

If a CPU had 32 data lines, they would sell it as a 32 bit CPU. Not necessarily having 32 address lines.

A 64 bit CPU would have 64 data lines and about 34, not 64 address lines (2^34) which is like 16GB.

So am I right, or did I get it wrong ?
 
32 bit OS can access about 3.5GB of total memory.

64 bit can access 128GB of memory (not 16)

So in some ways accurate, in some ways not. Basically if you've got more than 3GB of RAM, stick on a 64bit OS.
 
name='VonBlade' said:
32 bit OS can access about 3.5GB of total memory.

64 bit can access 128GB of memory (not 16)

So in some ways accurate, in some ways not. Basically if you've got more than 3GB of RAM, stick on a 64bit OS.

Why 128GB ? Doesn't the max addressable ram refer to the physical ammount of address lines ?

If what you're saying is true, every 64 bit CPU has 37 address lines.

(((2^37) / 1 024) / 1 024) / 1 024 = 128
 
Dunno where you're getting the whole address lines thing from.

2^64 is what you should be calculating.

2^32 = 4,294,967,296b. 4GB roughly.

2^64 = 18,446,744,073,709,552,576b, 18 EB (exabytes). However the limitations of hardware and the Windows OS mean that it's actually limited to 128GB.

A quick google will sort out all your questions.
 
name='VonBlade' said:
Dunno where you're getting the whole address lines thing from.

2^64 is what you should be calculating.

2^32 = 4,294,967,296b. 4GB roughly.

2^64 = 18,446,744,073,709,552,576b, 18 EB (exabytes). However the limitations of hardware and the Windows OS mean that it's actually limited to 128GB.

A quick google will sort out all your questions.

^I thought that too...

I'm getting it from school, the IT guy insists that address lines are independant from data lines....

I don't even know if I'm getting it right, each pin is a line, right ? Attached a pic.
 

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Basically a 32x OS can only adress 4gb in total, including RAM and the ram on your GPU's.

64x OS can address 128gb as von said, so thats perfect for multi GB gpu set ups and silly amounts of ram.

All new CPU's are 64x its only the old AMD's really that youll have problems with.

The new 64bit Windows 7 is brilliant btw, Ive made the leap now and not had any problems as it has a 32bit mode for any programs that dont like 64.
 
That image looks like an am2, let him explain this:

Intel_core_i7_940_bottom_R7309480_wp.jpg


Way more pins would mean way more memory capacity?
 
Thats not an AM2 chip tony, its an Intel i7

i7 right i5 left

corei5_comparisoni7.jpg


my bad, re read it. Pic is an AM2 your right
 
I like using car analogies as much as sticking pins in my eyes, but this stupidity warrants it.

:micro:

Looking at the pins to determine if its 32/64 bit is like looking at a car and trying to guess the engine size...

Seriously, get the make/model no. and look it up. Its not hard to find, not like its a big state secret.
 
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