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What we are getting if someone says "my machine is 64-bit computer" . What is the difference between 64-bit computer (I mean the CPU architecture) and operating system (Windows 64-bit OS). Please explain me how these terms are related with processor architecture.
JavaUser
Posted 2010-10-10T07:58:10.247
Reputation: 287
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A 64-bit processor is one which handles (or can handle) 64 bits of data in a single operation (for example addition of two registers each containing 64-bit integers, or accessing a memory location via a 64-bit pointer).
A 64-bit operating system is one which is compiled to take advantage of the 64-bit instructions provided by a 64-bit processor and as such will not work on a processor that does not support these instructions. One advantage of 64-bit Windows for example is that it can take advantage of more physical RAM than the 32-bit version of Windows.
Many mainstream 64-bit processors also have 32-bit instructions so that they are able to run either a 32-bit or a 64-bit operating system.
Mark Byers
Posted 2010-10-10T07:58:10.247
Reputation: 576
1I would like to further add that most 64-bit operating systems can run 32-bit code. They still require 64-bit drivers, however. – Darth Android – 2010-10-10T09:06:05.257
Also, there are 64-bit chips that can't run 32-bit code without emulation (such as Itaniums) as well as 64-bit chips that can run 32-bit code but must run a 64-bit OS (such as some SPARC architectures). However, neither shows up in processors that can really be considered "mainstream". – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams – 2010-10-10T09:43:44.673
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CPU with 64-bit registers can process more data than the 32-bit CPU that is faster than the CPU 16-bit and 8-bit. The more space available in the system CPU registers, the more also the process that can be handled, particularly in terms of system memory
LestiWulan
Posted 2010-10-10T07:58:10.247
Reputation: 21
Often the wider registers will result in poorer performance. And address space is only loosely associated with register size. It all depends on the internal CPU architecture. – Daniel R Hicks – 2012-06-27T02:10:42.297
any Documentation? – Malachi – 2012-10-19T22:00:29.157
See 32-bit vs. 64-bit systems.
– Mehper C. Palavuzlar – 2010-10-10T08:49:24.257You are getting someone who saw a "64-bit" sticker on the box the computer came in. – Daniel R Hicks – 2012-06-27T15:44:58.540