You may be familiar with the terms 32-bit and 64-bit because they are in the requirements of a system (and other technical jargon). Many people are confused about what these terms mean. What are the differences between the two? You will most likely encounter these terms if you want to know a computer’s operating system. If you wish to determine what software you want to install on your computer, it’s helpful to understand what 32-bit and 64-bit apps are. Understanding what makes 32-bit apps and 64-bit apps unique can be a little confusing. It’s important to understand why bits matter. Simply put, bits are processors used on 64-bit and 32-bit apps.
Difference between 32-bit and 64-bit
Virtually, more bits are better because as the number of bits goes higher, two essential advantages improve computer performance, this includes the following:
- More bits mean a system addresses or points to a greater number of locations in physical memory.
- More bits mean that data is processable in greater chunks more accurately.
32-bit apps
32-bit is the number of bits that are processed and can be processed. The 32-bit support was introduced in 1995. Consumers desired it because it could point to 4 Gigabytes of memory. Now, 4 GB isn’t enough for consumers. The average PC has 4 GB of RAM. Some examples of 32-bit operating systems are:
- Microsoft Windows: Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP, Server, and Vista
- Mac OS: Classic (84-2001) and OS X
- Linux: Red Hat, Mandrake, and Ubuntu
- FreeBSD: Versions 1 to 8
- Solaris: Versions 1 to 10
64-bit apps
64-bit refers to a process with registers that allows storage for 64-bit numbers. 64-bit Windows was released in 1999. Many applications today need more than 4 GB of memory to complete tasks. Consumers now have files such as videos and games that exceed 4 GB. In today’s market, 64-bit systems are the standard.
There are certain advantages to having 64-bit apps. 64-bit apps are faster and more efficient than 32-bit ones. When a program is threatened, 64-bit programs have additional security features that can help, making 64-bit apps more secure. This is because they can digest greater chunks of data. 64-bit apps can accommodate more RAM or system memory. Theoretically, they can point to 18 billion gigabytes of RAM.
Popular apps like Chrome, iTunes, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office come in 64-bit form. Also, computer games rely on more memory to run faster, therefore they come in 64-bit forms.
Many apps haven’t transitioned into 64-bit versions because you can still run old 32-bit Windows programs. Some 32-bit apps don’t need to transition into 64-bit versions because there wouldn’t be any noticeable changes. 64-bit apps can run 32-bit apps, but 32-bit versions can’t run 64-bit apps. 32-bit versions can run old 16-bit apps but cannot run on 64-bit versions of Windows.
Does it Make A Difference?
Ultimately, 64-bit apps allow your computer to do more tasks faster. Bits are calculated as power, and virtually, 64-bits allows for higher numbers to calculate more and quicker. Today, applications that require high performance take advantage of increased available memory.
64-bit and 32-bit apps are the same, but different. For instance, in your Program Files folders, one is labeled “Program Files,” and the other is labeled “Program Files (x86).” Applications using the same resources on Windows, called DLL files, are structured differently, and it depends on whether they are used for 32-bit applications or 64-bit applications. In conclusion, the difference to take away from 32-bit and 64-bit apps is the amount of RAM they can handle.