Can I install 64-bit Windows?

I'm asking because I noticed the system requirements for Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed both call for 64-bit Windows—apparently they won't even run on 32-bit. It’s not like I could actually handle the second one anyway, but I'm still curious.

My processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo (couldn't get the multiplier unlocked, unfortunately). The manual doesn't explicitly say if it's 64-bit or not, so I'm assuming it might just be 32-bit. Just so I'm clear, I wouldn't be able to install 64-bit Windows 7 on a 32-bit dual-core processor, right?

You totally can.
The only thing is, you aren't really gaining much from just having it, but a 64-bit OS lets you actually use the full power of a 64-bit processor. Plus, there are some nice little perks—like being able to actually utilize more than 3.76GB of RAM. I don't know if you've noticed this on your own rig, but if you have 4GB installed, the system often shows you only have 3.76GB available. It’s those kinds of little wins that make a difference...
I'm not sure if we're talking about video games or whatever else, but honestly, I couldn't tell you if the OS or the processor even matters that much to them...
But look, nothing is stopping you from installing a 64-bit OS. You've got nothing to lose, maybe aside from a few niche apps that only run on 32-bit systems, but those are incredibly rare nowadays...
Or, you could just go with DualBoot...

Yeah, I’ve got 4GB in there, but it’s only showing 3.15GB as usable.

And those two titles I mentioned are definitely PC games—yeah. They won't run on 32-bit systems. It actually kind of trips me up that I can even install 64-bit Windows on a 32-bit processor, but thanks for getting back to me.

That processor is definitely 64-bit

Honestly, I haven't even checked yet, which is probably for the best...

Nathan Brooks42, where on earth did you get the idea that you can run 64-bit Windows on a 32-bit processor? I’m not sure who gave you that info, but it’s just physically impossible to pull off because the installation won't actually finish. Technically, the installer might start up, but once you get past the language and regional settings and move to the screen where you pick which drive to install Windows on, hitting that install button will just trigger an error message. Please, let's try not to spread misinformation!
The processor wearystag57 mentioned just happens to be a 64-bit one by chance, but my point still stands: it’s simply not doable otherwise!
For wearystag57: I'm pretty certain Assassin's Creed requires a graphics card that supports DirectX 11, so if yours doesn't meet that requirement, you're going to hit a wall. I actually really wanted to jump into that game myself since everyone says it's incredible, but my NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 only supports DirectX 10, so until I can upgrade my GPU, that game is staying firmly out of my reach.

Oh, okay, so that thing is actually 64-bit. It’s kind of weird that they don't mention it anywhere—not in the manual or even on the box itself. Yeah, I hadn't really thought about playing Assassin's Creed. That would be a totally new experience for me, and even if I could get it to run, I imagine it would struggle pretty badly. I was actually hoping to play Call of Duty, but then I saw the 64-bit requirement, and now I'm not even sure if my NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX can handle it. Honestly, it doesn't matter too much right now since I don't have any plans to reinstall my OS just for one game. Maybe by the next time I do a fresh install, I'll have upgraded some parts.

Thanks, everyone.

wearystag57 said:So, that thing is actually 64-bit. It’s pretty strange that they don't mention that anywhere on the box or in the manual. Yeah, I hadn't even considered Assassin's Creed; it's too new, and even if I could get it to run, the performance would likely be a total disaster. I was actually hoping to play Call of Duty until I realized it was 64-bit, though I'm honestly not sure if my NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX can even handle it. It doesn't matter much right now, since I have no intention of reinstalling Windows just for one game, so maybe by the time I finally do a clean install, I'll have upgraded some hardware.

Thanks, everyone.

Of course your processor is 64-bit, considering Intel launched the first 64-bit x86 desktop processors back in 2003, which feels like a lifetime ago now.🍿

http://youtu.be/fnINSGKH7Ws

Andrew Miller102 said:Well, obviously your processor is 64-bit—the first 64-bit x86 desktop chips, like the Athlon64, were actually developed by Intel back in 2003, which feels like forever ago now.🍿

http://youtu.be/fnINSGKH7Ws

I used to have an Athlon before this Phenom xD, and I remember it always being labeled as 64-bit everywhere you looked. When I stopped seeing that label on newer ones, I honestly thought they’d just given up on 64-bit tech in favor of focusing entirely on multi-core processors. It's good to know that wasn't actually the case, though.

MrGoode; I won't say for certain because it might have been a few years back, but I remember installing the x64 version of Windows 7 on my old rig, and I am absolutely positive I didn't even have a 64-bit processor at the time.
I was doing a little digging online just now and noticed plenty of other stories where people tried to force an x64 OS onto a 32-bit system. My guess? It probably just worked out as a total fluke in those specific cases...

What kind of CPU were you running?

Honestly, I can’t quite put my finger on the exact timing, but it was definitely somewhere in the ballpark of a year or two ago...
I'm positive it wasn't a 64-bit setup, though, mostly because I never even owned a 64-bit processor back then. Plus, now that I think about it, I clearly remember seeing that Program Files (x86) folder and dealing with that whole 4.00GB RAM limit in System Properties... 🙂