32-bit processes on a 64-bit machine?

[PetersenIV]

So I got a shiny new computer the other day, but Task Manager says all my games and what not are running in 32-bit mode instead of 64-bit mode. What's the deal, how can I 'fix' this? I know there's nothing /wrong/ with running 32-bit on a 64-bit machine, but I'm surely not taking full advantage of my hardware by doing so.

[mr120]

Unless the software supplier has 64bit versions of 'said' software, your stuck with 32bit - it's not something you can toggle on and off.
Simply if the software was written for a 32bit architecture it cannot run in 64bit and vise versa.

Edit: To clarify, 32bit can run UNDER a 64bit OS, but not AS a 64bit process.

[powerstuck]

Um, the bit version is determined by the Windows version, and has barely anything to do with hardware.

[kaelleria]

Unless you have games that are routinely taking up close to 2 GB of memory. you wouldn't really see any advantage of using a 64 bit process over a 32 bit process in most cases.

[Organoth]

Um, the bit version is determined by the Windows version, and has barely anything to do with hardware.

Not true. For you to even run a 64-bit version of Windows it requires that you have a 64-bit CPU. You can have a 64-bit CPU with 32-bit Windows, but not the other way around.


OP, for the most part games are run as 32-bit because of consoles. They JUST maid the change to 64-bit last year. So any game released before than will most likely run in 32-bit. Some older games, specifically PC only games like WoW, will have 64-bit versions. You just have to select the 64-bit version.

[PetersenIV]

Sorry, I should've been more cliear: I have 64-bit windows, and a 64-bit processor, and these are games which have 64-bit versions.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Um, the bit version is determined by the Windows version, and has barely anything to do with hardware.

On the contrary - the CPU has to support 64 bit intructions. Admittedly, that has been almost every CPU built after 2001, but still.

32 bit processes will run on a 64 bit OS because x64 is a subset of x86. Programs will, however, only run in 64 bit mode if there is a 64 bit version of the program available (which should be fairly self-explanatory.

[mr120]

Is WoW, one of those games?

Can you confirm you are trying to run it in 64bit mode?
-Blizz Launcher > click the battlenet logo > settings > game settings > make sure 'launch 32bit client' isnt checked.

Is wow running 32 or 64bit version? - can you SS taskman

[PetersenIV]

Since I don't have an active subscription, I've not bothered reinstalling WoW yet. However, I just tested it with Planetside 2, which I'd have SWORN had shown me 32-bit earlier... I guess most of my games actually don't have a 64-bit version. My bad, sorry for the forum clutter. =-\ I thought sure that was an option most games supported (but didn't require)...

[XDurionX]

The 32Bit instructions are a subset of the 64Bit instructions, it´s up to the developer which set he wants to use. You cannot "speed up" 32bit or anything like that.

[Tehterokkar]

In nearly all cases for Games(and majority of software), 64-bit is only there to allow the use of more RAM. There is no real benefit over 32-bit since a vast majority of games do not require that much RAM.

Exceptions are games like Battlefield 4, where on my system(with 8GB RAM), it can consume up-to 2.4GB depending on the map, and that is where the 64-bit version will help a lot in increasing smoothness of the gameplay if it somehow reaches the RAM "cap" using a 32-bit version of BF4.

[fixx]

and these are games which have 64-bit versions.

Are you sure the games have 64bit versions, or just are 64bit compatible*?


*Everything is.

[yurano]

Sorry, I should've been more cliear: I have 64-bit windows, and a 64-bit processor, and these are games which have 64-bit versions.

In this case, the 64-bit executables are in the game folder.

[Vash The Stampede]

If it was made within the last 10 years, it's a 64-bit CPU. More likely you have 32-bit Windows on a 64-bit CPU. I believe the upgrade to 64-bit is free if you're using 7 or 8.

[fixx]

If it was made within the last 10 years, it's a 64-bit CPU.

Low power CPUs made for tablets & cheap laptops arent necessarily.

I believe the upgrade to 64-bit is free if you're using 7 or 8.

Same CD key can be used for both 32 and 64 bit versions of Win7 and 8 at least. Not 100% sure about Vista but I think so.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Low power CPUs made for tablets & cheap laptops arent necessarily.



Same CD key can be used for both 32 and 64 bit versions of Win7 and 8 at least. Not 100% sure about Vista but I think so.

The OP is running a 64 bit Windows installation, or he wouldn't be seeing the differentiation between x86 and x64 processes. So that obviously isn't the problem. You also have to go down to the 2 watt 1.6 GHz Atom processors to find one that doesn't support 64 bit instructions.

[Vash The Stampede]

The OP is running a 64 bit Windows installation, or he wouldn't be seeing the differentiation between x86 and x64 processes. So that obviously isn't the problem. You also have to go down to the 2 watt 1.6 GHz Atom processors to find one that doesn't support 64 bit instructions.

Atom processors still exist? Didn't they die off with the great failure of Netbooks?

[glo]

Atom processors still exist? Didn't they die off with the great failure of Netbooks?

They're used everywhere from thin clients to cash registers and media machines, among a ton of other stuff... Pretty much common knowledge in the hardware world.