Windows 10 32 or 64 bit – Which is the Right Architecture for You?

Windows 10 comes in two architectures: 32-bit and 64-bit. What’s the difference? To oversimplify it, you’re making a choice between compatibility and performance. Windows 10 32-bit is more likely to work with older hardware and software, but you’ll miss out on some of the performance and feature benefits that are only available in Windows 10 64-bit. In this article, we’ll walk you through the finer details so you can choose the best architecture for your needs.

Microsoft first released a 64-bit version of Windows in 2005. The 64-bit processor, which AMD first brought to market in 2003, it unleashed a lot of potentials, such as improved security and performance for games and industrial applications and the ability to address more memory.

For a long time, many OEMs preinstalled 32-bit Windows on 64-bit capable systems with sound reason. Many applications and hardware drivers remained compatible with the previous architecture for years. With the release of Windows 7 in 2009, 64-bit computing finally came into vogue. Software drivers for popular peripherals such as printers and other devices supported the newer architecture. After 10 years of 64 bit in mainstream computing, there are decisions to make when considering an upgrade to Windows 10.

Choosing the Right Version of Windows 10 – 32 or 64 bit?

There are a couple of factors that should consider when choosing a Windows 10 architecture.

How much RAM do you have?

Windows 10 64-bit is recommended if you have 4 GB or more RAM. Windows 10 64-bit supports up to 2 TB of RAM, while Windows 10 32-bit can utilize up to 3.2 GB. The memory address space for 64-bit Windows is much larger, which means, you need twice as much memory than 32-bit Windows to accomplish some of the same tasks. But you’ll be able to perform more tasks and process more information. For instance, you can have more applications open, run an Antivirus scan in the background, keep lots of browser tabs open or run multiple VMs without it affecting your overall system performance. Even though Windows 10 64-bit works best with 4 GB of RAM installed, the bare minimum requirements are actually 2 GB of RAM.

Which version of Windows 7 or Windows 8 are you running?

Microsoft recommends users upgrade to a corresponding architecture of Windows 10; if you have a 32-bit version of Windows 7 or 8 currently installed, you should choose 32-bit Windows 10 and vice-versa for Windows 10 64 bit. In a perfect world, that works, but in reality, some older CPUs are just not compatible with later versions of Windows 10. Read on for a prime example.

Does your CPU support the additional security features of Windows 10 64-bit?

Windows 10 64-bit includes a few additional security features that aren’t available in Windows 10 32-bit. For example, 64-bit versions of Windows require that all device drivers be signed. Driver signature enforcement means that you can only use drivers that Microsoft recognizes. This prevents malicious or buggy drivers from being used on your system.

Security features like driver signature enforcement are good, but older CPUs may not be fully compatible with Windows 10 64-bit, even if you were running Windows 7 or Windows 8 64-bit previously. This could be a result of lacking the proper security instructions at the CPU level. Common errors users will come across when attempting to upgrade to Windows 10 64-bit is the CMPXCHG16B/CompareExchange128 or CPU Not Compatible errors. You can easily check if your processor supports CMPXCHG16B/CompareExchange128 by using the free Coreinfo utility.

The release of Windows 8 in 2012 introduced a new set of security requirements at the processor level. The unusual thing about these requirements is that some fairly recent and older CPUs might or might not include these extensions. For instance, a Core 2 Quad from 2008 might include the NX (No eXecute bit), or the equivalent XD (eXecute Disabled), while a 2010 Core i3 might not.

The best way to find out is to load the BIOS or UEFI firmware, check the security category then enable it. In some cases, if the option is not available, it is possible your system could enable the feature through a BIOS or firmware update. This will require contacting the manufacturer or checking the downloads section for the make and model of your computer for current updates. If none is available, you might need to consider switching to 32-bit Windows 10, which might work instead. If your system has more than 4 GB of RAM installed, this could mean sacrificing some of it for the sake of compatibility.

Other hardware considerations

Choosing the architecture should depend on the type of system too. The rise of 64-bit computing came out of the necessity for workstations requiring more processor power for scientific and industrial applications. The netbook form factor existed for a while, but the rise of tablets in the late 2010s pushed them aside. Netbooks featured lower performance processors such as the Intel Atom and often came with 2 GB or less RAM. Windows 7 Starter edition was often the chosen operating system for these systems; which was only available as a 32-bit operating system.

Even though some Intel Atom processors support 64-bit Windows, the vast majority don’t due to requirements at the BIOS and c hipset level. For many owners of netbooks, 64-bit Windows is just not recommended even if you can run it . Netbooks were primarily designed for content consumption and light productivity tasks such as web browsing, word processing, email, streaming video and listening to music. In this regard, 32-bit Windows 10, if compatible, should be more than sufficient for such form factors. You can always upgrade the RAM or storage to an SSD for added performance if this is an option with your system.

For processors such as the Core 2 Duo, earlier AMD 64 processors and Intel 64 processors released prior to 2008, even if you are running a 64-bit compatible version of Windows, today, such as Vista or Windows 7, this does not mean its recommended or possible with Windows 10. As noted, newer operating system requirements and also performance might make it a deterrent.

In 2007 I had an Acer Ferrari 5000, which came with an AMD Turion 64-bit processor, ATI Radeon 128 Graphics and 2 GB of RAM. Back then that was state-of-the-art, but as Windows 10 became more powerful, the idea of trying to eek more life out of my existing hardware didn’t seem reasonable. Before Microsoft developed a 64-bit compatible operating system for the AMD 64 processor, the company noted 32-bit versions of Windows gaining a 9% performance boost just from running on 64-bit hardware. The same could be true even for modern 32-bit versions of Windows 10.

Which applications do you rely on?

For many users these days, 64-bit Windows 10 can make a lot of sense, but specifically on recent or newer systems. If you need to run the latest graphics intense games, multiple virtual machines and industrial applications such as AutoCAD, there is no other choice . For years now, companies such as Microsoft, Autodesk , and Adobe have released 64-bit versions of their flagship desktop applications such as Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and the Adobe Creative Cloud.

If you must run these types of applications—especially the latest versions—it is in your best interest to keep up on the hardware side too. If application compatibility is important to you, choosing 64-bit Windows 10 might be out of the question. Since its introduction, 64-bit versions of Windows have sacrificed 16-bit support. The lack of a 16-bit subsystem means users won’t be able to run legacy applications designed for older versions of Windows, such as Windows 3.1. Windows 10 32-bit still includes the 16-bit subsystem, but I found it to be extremely buggy. You’ll get more mileage out of a virtual machine running a compatible version of Windows for older applications.

As your system ages, choosing 64 bit Windows 10 might not necessarily make sense. Microsoft has not made pronouncements regarding the death of 32-bit Windows yet. Based on the millions of capable machines still out there, it would seem unreasonable to do so. Not to mention, if Microsoft drops them, 32-bit versions of the Linux operating system—many of which are still in active development—will gladly pick up the slack.

Conclusion

Ultimately, your choice will boil down to compatibility versus performance. If I were to make this simple, I would advise you to modify your expectations as your PC ages, especially as Windows 10 matures and adds advanced features, some of which are becoming exclusive to the 64-bit versions. For instance, Hyper-V and the Windows Subsystem for Linux both require 64-bit Windows 10. Of course, this might be a chore for users, requiring a clean install, finding application disks and setup files, backing up personal files and preparing to migrate. That said, prolonging the life of your system, especially with Windows 10’s lifecycle, will require re-evaluating the capabilities of the system every few years.

How to Upgrade 32 Bit to 64 Bit in Win10/8/7 without Data Loss [MiniTool Tips]

By Vera | Follow | Last Updated March 03, 2021

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Summary :

Have a need to upgrade Windows to 64 bit from 32 bit in Windows 10/8/7 since your memory is not used? How to upgrade 32 bit to 64 bit? This post shows you some things that you should check out, as well as the way to perform Windows 64 bit upgrade.

Quick Navigation :

Why Upgrade 32 Bit to 64 Bit in Windows 10/8/7

Microsoft offers both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10/8/7. The 32-bit version is also known as the x86 version while the 64-bit version is known as the x64 version.

When installing Windows 7, 8 or Windows 10, you can choose to install 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. But most of you may choose to install the 64-bit version instead of the 32-bit version. If you have installed a 32-bit operating system, you may change it to a 64-bit system.

Why change 32 bit to 64 bit of Windows OS? This is because the 32-bit version is limited to 4GB of RAM (Ramdon Access Memory), which is a small amount these days when PCs usually have 8GB or more. If you installed many applications at the same time, “your computer is low on memory” error message may appear.

If you want to actually use more than 4GB of RAM resources, probably you need a 64-bit version of Windows. With the additional access to memory, you can run more apps simultaneously and improve performance. And the system improves productivity with memory-intensive tasks, such as virtual machines, video editing, Office-working, and web browsing when dealing with a lot of open tabs.

What’s more, 64-CPU may have backward compatibility, allowing it to run 32-bit programs and may also support running 32-bit operating systems. In this aspects, 64-bit version of Windows may have more benefits than 32-bit.

Besides, it’s not surprising that many applications now require a 64-bit operating system due to that limitation. Moreover, you can run x64 and x86 applications on a 64-bit OS, but that is not possible on a 32-bit OS.

How to Convert 32 Bit to 64 Bit Windows 7/8/10 without Data Loss

In the following paragraphs, we will walk you through four steps to upgrade Windows to 64 bit.

• Make Sure Your Processor Is 64-Bit Capable
• Ensure Your PC Hardware Has 64-Bit Drivers Available
• Back up Your PC
• Upgrade 32 Bit to 64 Bit

Move 1: Make Sure Your Processor Is 64-Bit Capable

To do this work, go to Settings > Systems > About. On the right-hand side of the interface, navigate to the System type entry.

Then, you will see one of the following system type:

1. 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor: Your CPU support 64-bit and you have already installed the 64-bit edition of Windows 10. So, you don’t need to upgrade to 64 bit.
2. 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor: Your CPU supports 64-bit, but you have installed the 32-bit version of Windows.
3. 32-bit operating system, x86-based processor: Your CPU supports 32-bit and you have installed the 32-bit version of Windows.

To be specific, if you see the second entry, you are in luck and you can move on to the next section to continue Windows 10 64 bit upgrade since your 64-bit Central Processing Unit can run a 64-bit version. But if you see the third entry, you cannot install a 64-bit OS since your CPU doesn’t support 64-bit.

Move 2: Ensure Your PC Hardware Has 64-Bit Drivers Available

In addition, you should check whether other components, for example, video and sound cards, can work properly with a 64-bit version of Windows 10. Simply speaking, 64-bit OS requires 64-bit hardware drivers and the 32-bit drivers won’t work.

Modern hardware should certainly offer 64-bit drivers but some old hardware may no longer support and manufacturers may haven’t offered 64-bit drivers. To check for this, please go to your manufacturer support website to see if 64-bit drivers are available for download.

Move 3: Back up Your PC

Since you are making major changes to your operating system, it is indispensable to make a full backup of Windows 10. When you upgrade 32 bit to 64 bit in Windows 10/8/7, your personal files, settings, and applications will be deleted. And the best thing is to back up all the affected files to your external storage devices or USB drive to avoid data loss.

To back up your important files, you need a free backup program to help you. Which one is worth recommending? MiniTool ShadowMaker, a piece of professional file backup software, will be a good option, coming with many powerful features.

With the help of this freeware, you can create an image file for files & folders, Windows operating system, disk or partition. Besides, it can help you to sync files to other locations for backup. Above all, automatic file backup, differential & incremental backup can be created.

Right now, before you free change 32 bit to 64 bit of Windows 10/8/7, get MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial Edition from the following button to back up your crucial files. Note that this edition only allows you to free use for 30 days. If you want to keep this software all the time, get its Pro Edition.

Step 1: Double-click on this program to open it.

Step 2: Which feature should you use to back up files, Backup or Sync? Both are available. And here, you take the first feature as an example.

What do I need to back up my computer? What files should I back up? Now, get the answers to these two questions in this post.

In the Backup window, you need to decide which files to back up and where to save the backup image file. Just go to the Source section and choose personal files you want to back up.

Then, go to the Destination section and choose an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or NAS as the storage path.

Step 3: Finally, start the full backup process of your important files by hitting the Back up Now button.

Now, all operations to back up files are told to you. If you are planning to convert 32 bit to 64 bit of Windows 10/8/7 operating system, don’t hesitate to free download this backup software to prevent your data from losing after upgrading to the 64-bit version of Windows.

Right now, the previous three steps are told to you. Reading here, it is time for you to take action to upgrade Windows 10 32 bit to 64 bit. Just go to the next move to follow the corresponding steps for Windows 10 64-bit version upgrade.

Move 4: Upgrade Windows to 64 Bit

How to convert 32 bit to 64 bit Windows 7/8/10? As mentioned above, performing an upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit version of Windows is actually clean install. Now, follow the steps below to make a reinstallation.

Create a Bootable USB Drive

How can you create bootable USB from ISO in Windows 10 for a clean install? This post will show you the Windows 10 USB tool for ISO to USB.

Here, take Windows 10 64 bit upgrade as an example and we will show you the step-by-step instructions. Right now, insert your USB flash drive with at least 4GB of storage space to your device and to create the 64-bit Windows 10 installation media.

Step 1: Open the official web page to download Windows 10 Media CreationTool.

Step 2: Click Download tool now under Create Windows 10 installation media.

Step 3: Double-click on the MediaCreationTool.exe to run this utility and then accept the Microsoft terms.

Step 4: There are two options. Check the option Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD or ISO file) for another PC.

Step 5: Please choose language and edition. To upgrade Windows 10 to 64 bit, here please specify the 64-bit (x64) option for 64-bit Architecture.

Step 6: Choose the USB flash drive option so as to create a bootable USB drive. Additionally, you can also check the option ISO file but you need to burn the file to a USB drive or CD/DVD. Here, we recommend the first one.

Step 7: Next, all your drives on your computer will be listed. Just choose the USB flash drive from the list to continue.

Step 8: Then, this tool will start downloading needed files and creating a bootable drive from ISO file that is compatible with Windows 10 64 bit. Wait for the process to be finished.

Install Windows 10 64 Bit from Scratch

How to upgrade Windows 7 32 bit to 64 bit without CD or upgrade Windows 8/10 to 64 bit without disk? Now, restart your computer with the bootable USB drive and then follow these steps:

Step 1: After booting your PC from the USB drive, choose language, time and currency format and keyboard.

Step 2: Click Install now to continue.

Step 3: Your purpose is to upgrade 32 bit to 64 bit for Windows 10, so you should click the I don’t have a product key link (assuming your PC has been already properly activated).

Step 4: Choose the edition of Windows 10 to go on.

Step 5: Accept the license terms. To upgrade Windows 10 32 bit to 64 bit, please choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

Step 6: You may ask: how to upgrade 32 bit to 64 bit Windows 7/8/10 without formatting? Actually, it is easy. In the following drive list option page, choose the partition(s) with the current installation of Windows, and click the Delete button instead of formatting operation to remove it from the hard drive.

Step 7: Then, click the unallocated space to continue. Then, the setup will install the 64-bit version of Windows 10 on your computer. Later, you need to complete the Out-of-box experience (OOBE) setup the OS with your preferences by following the on-screen directions.

Bottom Line

Want to upgrade 32 bit to 64 bit? Here is the overview that you should do before the upgrade and how to convert 32 bit to 64 bit Windows 7/8/10. Just follow the above guides to start the upgrade operation.

Remember to leave a comment below or contact [email protected] if you have any different idea or question when you change 32 bit to 64 bit.

Upgrade Windows 10 32 Bit to 64 Bit FAQ

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Position: Columnist

Vera is an editor of the MiniTool Team since 2016 who has more than 5 years’ writing experiences in the field of technical articles. Her articles mainly focus on disk & partition management, PC data recovery, video conversion, as well as PC backup & restore, helping users to solve some errors and issues when using their computers. In her spare times, she likes shopping, playing games and reading some articles.