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We are currently running Optiplex 745's with Core 2 6600 processors. We are
looking to create a specification for procuring new PC's soon, probably with
Core 2 Duo processors. According to Intel's website, and Wikipedia, both the
Core 2 and Core 2 duo are 64 bit processors. Yet, I am almost certain that we
are running 32 bit XP, and I am a bit confused as to how this can be. My
system info says I have XP version 5.1.2600 SP2 Build 2600. Can someone
explain to me what part of this I have wrong? How can 32 bit windows run on a
64 bit processor?

Both the AMD64 and Core 2 processors are 64-bit with backwards compatibility
with the x86 instruction set. That means both 32-bit and 64-bit software
runs natively on these processors. Therefore 32-bit operating systems run
on them just as well as on the older x86 processors and just as well as
64-bit operating systems. That is why the 64-bit specific instructions are
called "extensions."

"Kato" <> wrote in message
news:F382F244-F304-408E-9717-...
> We are currently running Optiplex 745's with Core 2 6600 processors. We
> are
> looking to create a specification for procuring new PC's soon, probably
> with
> Core 2 Duo processors. According to Intel's website, and Wikipedia, both
> the
> Core 2 and Core 2 duo are 64 bit processors. Yet, I am almost certain that
> we
> are running 32 bit XP, and I am a bit confused as to how this can be. My
> system info says I have XP version 5.1.2600 SP2 Build 2600. Can someone
> explain to me what part of this I have wrong? How can 32 bit windows run
> on a
> 64 bit processor?

Thanks Colin - that 'splains it.

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> Both the AMD64 and Core 2 processors are 64-bit with backwards compatibility
> with the x86 instruction set. That means both 32-bit and 64-bit software
> runs natively on these processors. Therefore 32-bit operating systems run
> on them just as well as on the older x86 processors and just as well as
> 64-bit operating systems. That is why the 64-bit specific instructions are
> called "extensions."
>
> "Kato" <> wrote in message
> news:F382F244-F304-408E-9717-...
> > We are currently running Optiplex 745's with Core 2 6600 processors. We
> > are
> > looking to create a specification for procuring new PC's soon, probably
> > with
> > Core 2 Duo processors. According to Intel's website, and Wikipedia, both
> > the
> > Core 2 and Core 2 duo are 64 bit processors. Yet, I am almost certain that
> > we
> > are running 32 bit XP, and I am a bit confused as to how this can be. My
> > system info says I have XP version 5.1.2600 SP2 Build 2600. Can someone
> > explain to me what part of this I have wrong? How can 32 bit windows run
> > on a
> > 64 bit processor?
>

You're welcome.

"Kato" <> wrote in message
news:33691A0F-9A63-41FC-8471-...
> Thanks Colin - that 'splains it.
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
>> Both the AMD64 and Core 2 processors are 64-bit with backwards
>> compatibility
>> with the x86 instruction set. That means both 32-bit and 64-bit software
>> runs natively on these processors. Therefore 32-bit operating systems
>> run
>> on them just as well as on the older x86 processors and just as well as
>> 64-bit operating systems. That is why the 64-bit specific instructions
>> are
>> called "extensions."
>>
>> "Kato" <> wrote in message
>> news:F382F244-F304-408E-9717-...
>> > We are currently running Optiplex 745's with Core 2 6600 processors. We
>> > are
>> > looking to create a specification for procuring new PC's soon, probably
>> > with
>> > Core 2 Duo processors. According to Intel's website, and Wikipedia,
>> > both
>> > the
>> > Core 2 and Core 2 duo are 64 bit processors. Yet, I am almost certain
>> > that
>> > we
>> > are running 32 bit XP, and I am a bit confused as to how this can be.
>> > My
>> > system info says I have XP version 5.1.2600 SP2 Build 2600. Can someone
>> > explain to me what part of this I have wrong? How can 32 bit windows
>> > run
>> > on a
>> > 64 bit processor?
>>