A CPU with a 32-bit register, for example, has a ceiling of 2. The more ample the space in the CPU’s register system the more it can handle, especially in terms of utilizing system memory. The bit designation refers to the width of the register, thus a 64-bit register can hold more data than a 32-bit register which in turn holds more than 16-bit and 8-bit registers. The CPU’s register is a small amount of storage used by the CPU where the CPU keeps the data it needs to access the quickest in order for optimum computer performance. Now that we got the processors right, let’s now focus on what does 64-bit even mean? In the context of discussions about 32-bit and 64-bit personal computers the XX-bit format refers to the width of the computer’s internal CPU’s register. A 32-bit OS is designed to take advantage of the resources facilitated by a 32-bit processor (like Intel’s x86) and while a 64-bit version takes advantage of a 64-bit processor. The operating system is designed to utilize a kind of processor architecture and named so accordingly.
After a decade, nearly all operating system makers including Apple OS X, Microsoft Windows, Sun Microsystem Solaris, and the most recent Google’s Android have ventured into 64-bit versions.īasically, the 64-bit versions were developed to take advantage of the advancing technology in chip architecture.
However, the record of the first 64-bit operating system goes to UNICOS created by the supercomputer-maker Cray Inc. Microsoft started releasing 64-bit versions with Windows XP, which had the longest product lifespan of around 14 years. But does it really matter? Nearly every PC nowadays has a 64-bit processor now, so why should you care about the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems? 32-Bit Vs 64-Bit processor
Every Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows XP to Windows 10 comes in two versions, 32-bit or a 64-bit version. To understand the 32-bit and 64-bit let’s dig a little deeper.