Quick question about AMD 64 processors and 64 bit OS

[Ravioli]

Do i need a 64 bit OS in order to use the full power of a 64 bit dual core AMD processor? In this case its 6 Ghz total, so if i have a 32 bit OS, does it only use 3 GBs?????

 

[Barney Fife]

Yes: To get the CPU to work in 64bit mode; you must use 64bit OS (XP or Vista Etc.) Its the memory space limitation to 2GB in 32bit environment which comes to play; where the 64bit OS memory handling is limited to 4GB.
The GHz is the frequency which CPU operates, in this case you may be referring to 3GHz dual-core which in reality isn't running at 6GHz but two identical CPUs running 3GHz each on side-by-side. and when you execute apps. they will only use one of the CPU running at 3GHz and not both unless these apps are multi-threaded apps, which still using two CPUs running 3GHz each, simultaneously.

Hope you understood what I just said, cuz I sure didn't.

Good Luck.

 

[Asus]

That isn't how it works exactly. hehe

Yes, you do need a 64bit OS before you can run 64bit applications on a 64bit CPU. Most apps are still 32bit though and only a few really see a jump in performance on 64bit (like Winzip/winrar). Like Barney said, most are going to 64bit only so their programs have more virtual memory available to work with beyond the 2GB application space in 32bit Windows.

It runs at the same speed. A CPU's GHz never get doubled by 64bit or running 2 cores.

 

[Ravioli]

Thanks for answering my question. Is it worth to upgrade to a 64bit OS in my case? Most games doesnt need more than 3 Ghz anyway right? I heard that some games such as Tiberium Wars doesnt work on 64bit, is this true?

Thanks

 

[Asus]

The biggest thing is checking if all your devices have 64bit drivers. That is where most people have conflict atm. You can't have 32bit drivers on a 64bit system even though you can run 32bit applications.