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x64 vs. x86?

  • November 3, 2011 at 8:38 am

    #251064

    I have a computer with Windows 7 32-bit. I am trying to download SQL Server Management Studio Express 2008 from the Microsoft website here:

    (http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...s.aspx?id=7593)

    It says "Download the files appropriate for you".

    Then there are two downloads one has x64 and one has x86 appended to the end of the file name. Seeing x64 it makes me suspect that this download is for 64-bit operating systems, however there is no option for x32 bit machines. So which of these 2 download options should I use?

  • November 3, 2011 at 8:47 am

    #1402680

    x86 is 32-bit. The 86 comes from the 8086 chip.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86

    Thanks,

    Jared

    Jared
    CE - Microsoft

  • November 3, 2011 at 8:48 am

    #1402681

    x86 equates to 32 bit.

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  • November 3, 2011 at 8:55 am

    #1402687

    Thanks to you both. Why an earth does Microsoft assume people know these things? They are supposed to be the leaders in this stuff. If anything when you hover the mouse cursor over the two options it should explain what each one is for, or at least a plain text explanation next to it.....

  • November 3, 2011 at 9:03 am

    #1402694

    It's actually Intel's fault. Microsoft uses their terminology, because the versions actually correspond to those chip names.

    There are 32-bit chips that aren't x86, and the software won't run on those, so they have to play it safe and use that terminology.

    But, yeah, it's not clear. Blame Intel and their weird chip naming. So, is the "i2" related to the "i7", the "i5", and the "i9", and, if so, how? "i7" was the standard for top-end gaming machines a few years ago. Does that mean "i9" is and upgrade over that? What happened to "i1", "i3", et al? Why do some "Core 2" chips have 4 cores? And so on. It's their mess, and they just refuse to clean it up and keep making it worse with every new release.

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  • November 3, 2011 at 9:04 am

    #1402696

    garethmann101 (11/3/2011)

    Thanks to you both. Why an earth does Microsoft assume people know these things? They are supposed to be the leaders in this stuff. If anything when you hover the mouse cursor over the two options it should explain what each one is for, or at least a plain text explanation next to it.....

    I guess it comes from being around PCs since the 8088/8086 days for many of us. These were 16-bit machines, but as they grew into 32-bit systems, they were referred to by their x86 heritage.

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