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Resolved Question

x86 vs. X64 - Does it Matter?

Sep 1, 2018 1:37PM PDT

My desktop is running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, version 1709, build 16299.547. The CPU is an Intel Core i7 4770K, and RAM is 32 GB DDR3 dual channel. Windows reports processor as X64-based. This is confusing, since I expected the designation to be x86. I'm attempting to install Windows 10 update 1803 with no success, i.e., every suggestion from net has failed.

Referring only to Microsoft support, a suggestion is to re-install the current version (1709) - and system type (X64) - from the Windows Update Catalog. When the X64 version is downloaded, the file name is AMD64****. Is this MS' nomenclature for 64-bit x86 systems?

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lemaech56 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

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The x86 term became common after the introduction of the
Sep 5, 2018 4:25AM PDT

80386, it usually implies a binary compatibility with the 32-bit instruction set of the 80386. 64 bit processors became available to the general public in the early 2000's with AMD first then Intel. MS did have a version of XP that was 64 but it wasn't a huge success. Vista came in both 32 and 64 bit version and 64 bit really became a success in WIndows 7. 32 bit app run in 32 and 64 bit OS's and 64 bit apps only run in a 64 bit OS.

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Answer
The x86 is accepted as 32 bit Intel CPUs.
Sep 2, 2018 9:24AM PDT

x64 is accepted as the newer 64 bit CPUs by all the makers.

Do not get hung up on this since if you install the x86 version you only get 4GB of address space and a raft of other limitations.