What is the Difference between a 32-Bit and 64-Bit Operating System?
Today’s PCs come in two varieties: those running a 32-bit operating system and those running a 64-bit operating system. The difference is the amount of information the PC’s processor can handle at any precise moment. While a computer designed for a 64-bit operating system has vastly more potential computing power, it requires fundamental changes to the way its software is designed. The word “bit” refers to the way computers deal with information in binary, where all data is listed as a string of digits which can either be a 0 or a 1. Each of these digits is known as one bit, meaning a 32-bit processor can process 32 digits at once. Don’t confuse this with memory, which measures the total amount of information a computer can remember without needing to use a storage device such as a disk. While the figure for memory will be much bigger, a computer can’t process all of that information at once. The software for a computer with a 32-bit processor, including operating systems such as Windo
Related Questions
- I am using a Linux-based operating system that is not on the Xilinx list of supported operating systems (e.g., Fedora, Ubuntu, etc.). Will Xilinx USB cables work with these operating systems?
- What Operating System (OS) will come on my computer? What are the current "supported" operating systems?
- What is the Difference between a 32-Bit and 64-Bit Operating System?
