x86 or x64 and its probably too far above your head to understand in the first place. X64 bit systems use 64 bit processors, x86 use 32 bit processors. 64 bit processors are faster.
x86 (32 bit) or x64 (64bit).. the difference is in their architecture
the most easily noticeable difference is in the amount of ram usable,
on windows 7 x86 has a max of 3.5gb
x64 uses 4gb or more
( some programs are x64 or x86 specific..)
x86 is the designation for the 32 bit version of Windows 7. The 64 bit version of Windows 7 is basically the same as the 32 bit version, but can address a far higher memory range natively. The 32 bit version of windows cannot theoretically directly access memory addresses higher than 4 Gigs. In reality, it is even less, since some motherboards reserve some memory for video (shared integrated RAM) and some other system resources. Most systems, even if you loaded it with 4 Gigs of ram, if you use x86/32 bit Windows 7, you will only see around 3.2 to 3.8 Gigs of RAM. So, in theory, using the 64 bit version is "better". In theory.
However, in the real world, people that have to ask this question in the first place, are not likely to buy systems maxed out with 4 Gigs of RAM, and are not likely the type of power user that will need that full 4 Gigs of RAM. They just web surf or play a few games now and then. Those people will probably never put enough stress on their system to even start dipping into that 3rd Gig, let alone using over 4 Gigs. Also, not all applications are available in native 64 bit versions, and you end up running older 32 bit applications anyway. Even if you use an application that requires more ram, Windows already has a built in mechanism for providing more ram to the user, by swapping out pages of ram to a swap disk (the pagefile.sys).
x86 (32 bit) or x64 (64bit).. the difference is in their architecture
the most easily noticeable difference is in the amount of ram usable,
on windows 7 x86 has a max of 3.5gb
x64 uses 4gb or more
( some programs are x64 or x86 specific..)
x86 is the designation for the 32 bit version of Windows 7. The 64 bit version of Windows 7 is basically the same as the 32 bit version, but can address a far higher memory range natively. The 32 bit version of windows cannot theoretically directly access memory addresses higher than 4 Gigs. In reality, it is even less, since some motherboards reserve some memory for video (shared integrated RAM) and some other system resources. Most systems, even if you loaded it with 4 Gigs of ram, if you use x86/32 bit Windows 7, you will only see around 3.2 to 3.8 Gigs of RAM. So, in theory, using the 64 bit version is "better". In theory.
However, in the real world, people that have to ask this question in the first place, are not likely to buy systems maxed out with 4 Gigs of RAM, and are not likely the type of power user that will need that full 4 Gigs of RAM. They just web surf or play a few games now and then. Those people will probably never put enough stress on their system to even start dipping into that 3rd Gig, let alone using over 4 Gigs. Also, not all applications are available in native 64 bit versions, and you end up running older 32 bit applications anyway. Even if you use an application that requires more ram, Windows already has a built in mechanism for providing more ram to the user, by swapping out pages of ram to a swap disk (the pagefile.sys).
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