What is 64-bit?
64-bit editions of Windows Vista are for computer users with advanced high-performance needs. The terms “32-bit” and “64-bit” refer to the way a computer’s processor handles information. The 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the Windows operating system are designed for use in computers with 32-bit or 64-bit processors, respectively. The 64-bit versions of Windows can utilize more random access memory (RAM) than 32-bit versions of Windows can address. This helps minimize the time spent swapping processes in and out of memory by storing more of those processes in RAM rather than on the hard disk. This, in turn, can increase overall system performance. For more details about 32-bit and 64-bit, see the Windows Help and How-to FAQ. To find out what version of Windows Vista is installed on your computer: • Click Start, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, and then click System. • View the system type.