32-bit vs 64-bit addressing - how to tell?

WinXp Home, Sp2.

Is there a way to determine if a system is using 32 or 64 bit addressing?

Supposedly, this system is setup to allow for the 64-bit windows version when
its available but i have had a process (acronis true image 7.0) give errors about
64-bit addressing but acronis true image 8.0 appears to handle this addressing
OK. While acronis says 64-bit systems support wont be available until late this
fall.

So i'm confused about weather 32 or 64 bit (addressing) is being used presently.

thanks,
savagcl

 

If you have a 32bit OS version (and you do) then regardless of what the processor can handle, you are dealing with 32bit data.

Sounds simple enough BUT

AMD has somehow managed to improve on things a little. There are times when two 32bit instructions are sent and the processor logic allows it to handle them as a single instructions using the additional space available with 64bit addressing.

Note that you now know as much about it as I do. I have read it can happen but the tech details are way beyond me. However, if you run a 64Bit AMD CPU, this is probably what is confusing your Acronis.

 

Newt,

Its an Intel Dual processor using 915G chipset.

Intel BTX 915G (South Lake 2) 800 MHz Motherboard but has expansion
capabilities (64-bit/1024 MHz) when those capabilities become available.

Supposedly the "full" 64-bit is not available currently so i was wondering why
acronis was getting confused about 64-bit addressing (and what was really
happening inside my PC)....

very strange!

Thanks, Newt,
savagcl

 

Doubt Acronis gets 'confused'; rather think the programers are! Not up to speed on diagnosing the system and CPU they're running on.

I'm running a dual boot system, 2K and XP64 trial, on an Athlon 64 and the difference in thruput between the 32 and 64 bit systems is enormous! You'll know when you're running 64 bits wide, or actually 128 bits on this one.