Technology computers-hardware

Difference Between 64 Bit Operating System & 32 Bit

By Technology Last updated Saturday, June/29/2024

Basics

As you probably know, computers use memory to store data. While many different kinds of memory exist inside the typical computer, RAM (random access memory) is the type of memory that most frequently communicates with the operating system. A RAM with 64 bits, as opposed to 32, uses a more detailed system to store information, and can therefore store significantly more information and access this information faster. A 64-bit RAM records far more details about the location of each specific piece of information, and can therefore find the data it needs to locate with greater speed. In order to be able to store more detailed information, however, it needs more memory space and computing power.

A number of Linux and Apple-based operating systems are 64-bit based. Windows Vista, the most popular operating system in the market, is capable of running both as a 64 as well as a 32-bit operating system, depending on the capabilities of your computer. According to Microsoft, the 32-bit version of the Windows operating system can use 3 gigabytes of RAM, whereas 64-bit versions use up to 128 GB of RAM. This results in far faster and smoother operation of software programs, especially if the said programs have been designed to take advantage of a 64-bit operating system.

Programs designed for 64-bit systems can run a larger number of concurrent operations, as they can use a larger amount of the available RAM. A computer game, for instance, can display more fluid movement of the virtual characters if it can use 64 bits. This is because the data that needs to be accessed from the RAM in order to make calculations (such as what happens when you hit the brakes in a racing game) can be found faster.

Unfortunately, a 64-bit operating system requires more advanced hardware and software to run properly. For example, system requirements for the 64-bit version of Windows Vista are: 1-GHz 64-bit (x64) processor, 1 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended). The 32-bit version, on the other hand, will work just fine with a 1-gigahertz (GHz) 32-bit (x86) processor or 64-bit (x64) processor and requires 512 MB of RAM.

In addition, the 64-bit version of Windows Vista does not support 32-bit device drivers. Therefore, some of the devices may suddenly stop working if you switch to the 64-bit operating system without a thorough check prior to installation. Finally, the 32-bit version of Vista will support all 16-bit software programs, whereas the 64-bit version of the same operating system will not support 16-bit programs.

If you have determined that your computer can handle a 64-bit operating system and wish to upgrade from your existing 32-bit version, you may need to uninstall your existing operating system and install the new version. It is often impossible to simply upgrade from a 32-bit to a 64-bit version.

For Windows operating systems, for example, you can only perform an upgrade from one 32-bit version to another 32-bit version of Windows. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, you can only upgrade to another 64-bit version. To go from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version (applicable to Windows 7 and Vista), back up your files and reinstall Windows, selecting the Custom option during installation. Once this operation is finished, you can restore your files and reinstall programs. The operation is rather time-consuming, however, and a novice should have it done by a professional.