64 bit processor showing as x86?

I am hoping to get the upgrade dvd for my windows vista home premium edition pc so i can upgrade to 64bit (so it can read more ram). I have an AMD 64 6000+. However i looked into my computer environment variables and it states my processor is x86 :S. I was just wondering if this is a problem with my bios because it should read x64, or am i mistaken? and will the fact my system is showing it as not being x64 effect my computer running?

thanks

New system build

well the title says it all really, im planning on a new system, and since my psu has just died i think now is a good time to start thinking
The main reason i want to build a new system is because i want to get an nvida 9800gx2, which is obviously big but also not all psu's can power it
so here is a list of what i was thinking

nvidia 9800gx2
cool master 1000W
amd phenomX4 9950 black edition 2.6ghz

there is also a case i have looked at with inbuilt water cooling, but its pricey (around about £250 i think) but i cant remember the name of it and my main pc is broke so iv lost all my information about the stuff i wanted to buy. But would i need water cooling? if i can get away with not having it then thats great, means i can save some money, but obviously the case has to be big enough for the card

i want to try and keep the price down, but as you can see from the examples there i want it to be powerful
so im hoping you guys can help me, the reason i have chosen an AMD processor is because i haven't had any problems with them, and also an ASUS motherboard would be good
however you may have words of wisdom and ideas to share so please if you think something would be better etc then please let me know

C/C++ compiler

I am going to university after my gap year to study ethical hacking, however i want to start learning what i can over my year off. I am currently trying to learn C. I have a really book called Absolute beginners guide to C which I have looked through and it makes the learning process a lot easier, but i need to download a compiler program. Does anyone know of a good free compiler?

This is the first time I have tried to tackle a programing language so if anyone has any tips that would be great.

Is my computer compatible with the 9800GX2?

hey, in the next couple of months I'm hoping to upgrade my graphics card and ram. I'm going to get 2gig more of ram, as iv been told vista will only read 4gig.

The graphics card I'm hoping on getting is the new 9800GX2. Expensive i know but what the hell. I just want to make sure my computer is compatible with it, because i know it is large (does anyone know the exact size?) and Iv read that you need a NVIDIA HybridPower enabled motherboard, but I'm not sure if mine is.

So is my computer ready for this?

Computer powering off after 5 seconds :O

I have just tried to install my new 500 gig HD. I put it in and attached all the cables etc but when i started up my computer it powered up for about 5 seconds then just switched off. It did this over and over. I took the new HD out but it still continued to do this. I then tried unplugging the power on different things such as my CD drive etc. When i unplugged one of my motherboard power cables (the one right next to my graphics card) my PC would stay on and not switch off after 5 seconds, however nothing came up on screen. I tried removing the graphics card to see if this would help then attached the power cable again but it switched off after 5 seconds.

Now when I switched my PC off before i put the hard drive in there was a strange cracking noise. The best way i can describe the noise is the noise you get on a TV screen when you put your hand near it (well old TVs anyway). I'm guessing this could be something to do with it.

Also, when I hold down the reset button the power will stay on without switching off.

I'm going to pull my PC apart tomorrow but i was just wondering if anyone has any idea what could be the cause. I'm guessing it is something on the motherboard...but what