Core 2 processors and XP version

[Guest Kato]

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?

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: Core 2 processors and XP version

 

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" <Kato@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:F382F244-F304-408E-9717-489C52477BA8@microsoft.com...

> 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?

[Guest Kato]

Re: Core 2 processors and XP version

 

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" <Kato@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:F382F244-F304-408E-9717-489C52477BA8@microsoft.com...

> > 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?

>

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: Core 2 processors and XP version

 

You're welcome.

 

"Kato" <Kato@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:33691A0F-9A63-41FC-8471-67A449C0A2C4@microsoft.com...

> 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" <Kato@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:F382F244-F304-408E-9717-489C52477BA8@microsoft.com...

>> > 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?

>>