The processor architecture defines the computer platform and designates the structure of the computer. The type of processor determines the type of information processing and the method of calculation. When choosing an OS, you need to take this characteristic into account in order to achieve maximum performance and full compatibility of all applications on the system.
Necessary
Everest or CPU-Z
Instructions
Step 1
Currently, the most common processor architectures are x86 and x84_64. X86s are developed by INTEL and are numbered i286, i386, i486, i586, and i686. Recently, processors began to be given names - Pentium, Athlon, Sempron, Core 2 Duo, etc., which complicates their classification.
Step 2
The most significant difference between a 32-bit OS and a 64-bit OS is that it can handle only up to 4 GB of memory. 64-bit systems support up to 192GB of memory. This is perhaps the main difference between these architectures. If you install 4 gigabytes of RAM in an x86 computer, then only 3.5 GB will be determined, while x86_64 will determine the entire amount of RAM in full.
Step 3
Look at your processor model in the technical documentation for your computer. If the processor name is Pentium 4, Celeron, AMD K5 or K6, Athlon, Sempron, or Xeon, then your computer has an x86 architecture. If the processor is listed as Pentium 4 EE, Athlon 64, Athlon XII, Core 2 Duo, Pentium D, Sempron 64, then you can use an OS designed for x64.
Step 4
Knowledge of the processor type is essential for distributions that are based on open source principles. Otherwise, the system will not work correctly.
Step 5
To determine the type of architecture, you can use special utilities to collect information about the system. For example, Everest will directly indicate support for certain technologies, AMD64 or EMT 64. Alternatively, you can use the CPU-Z program.
