SPOILER ALERT!
32-Bit vs. 64-Bit OSes: What is the Difference?
There are a large amount of ways to count, but when you are considering computers there is just binary: 0 and 1. Each one is actually a viewed as a "bit." That means for 1-bit computing, you get 2 possible values; 2-bit means 4 values; then at 3 bits you double that to 8 (two to the third power, aka two cubed).
Keep going exponentially and you eventually get 32 bit (2 to the 32nd power) worth 4,294,967,296; 64 bit (or 2 to the 64th power) is actually worth 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 values. That is 18.4 quintillion and change.
That's a considerable amount of bits, and the figures show just how much more effective a chip that supports higher-bit computing can be. It's a much more than double.
That is because every couple of years, the chips inside the computers (even the software application and smartphones) working on those chips make leaps forward in supporting a new number. For example:
The Intel 8080 chip in the 1970s supported 8-bit computing.
In 1992, Windows 3.1 was the first 16-bit desktop version of Windows.
AMD shipped the very first 64 bit desktop chip in 2003.
Apple made Mac OS X Snow Leopard entirely 64-bit in 2009.
The initial smartphone with a 64-bit chip (Apple A7) was the iPhone 5s in 2014.
It is pretty obvious: 64-bit, sometimes styled as x64, is actually capable of doing more than 32-bit. You may recognize 32-bit as x86, a buzz word that originally referred to any OS with the instruction set to work on Intel chips like the 8086 through 80486.
These days, you are most likely already running 64-bit chips with 64 bit operating systems, which subsequently run 64 bit apps (for mobile) or perhaps programs (on the desktop, to settle on some nomenclature). But not always. Windows seven, eight, 8.1, and ten all came in 32 bit or 64-bit designs, for instance.
How do you even tell which one you have?
Identify a 64-Bit OS If you are running Windows on a laptop less than 10 years old, your chip is almost certain to be 64 bit, though you might have installed a 32 bit version of the OS. It is not difficult enough to check out.
In Windows 10, go to Settings > System > About or type About in the Windows ten search box. Under the Device specifications heading, you'll see it at System type: "64-bit operating system, x64 based processor" means you're closed.
64-Bit Windows ten
Mac end users do not have to be concerned about this, as MacOS has been 64-bit only for a long time. In reality, as of the latest version (10.14 Catalina) 32-bit uses on a Mac aren't even technically supported, though we've a guide for running 32-Bit apps in MacOS Catalina. In the event you need to.
Why 32 Bit at All?
Why would you install a 32-bit OS on a PC? The main reason is actually as you've a 32 bit processor, which involves a 32-bit OS.
Having such a CPU today is actually unlikely. Intel started making 32-bit processors in the 80386 range way back in 1985; it was selling 64-bit processors by 2001.
If you have bought a pc since the Pentium D chip came out in 2005, it is not likely you'd have just a 32 bit instruction set inside.
Even more likely, you have a well used system with an operating system you installed that only came as 32-bit. Subsequent upgrades, if any, might not have jumped your install up to 64 bit.
That could be fine - not all of the earliest 64-bit processors had all the features in place. You can figure out whether your PC is really prepared for full 64 bit by using software like 64bit Checker. It does work on all versions of Windows going back to Windows 95.
Installing a 32-bit OS on a 64-bit-architecture system is able to work, however, it's not optimal. A 32-bit OS, for example, has far more limitations - the standout being it is able to only really utilize 4GB of RAM.
Installing more RAM on a system with a 32-bit OS doesn't have impact that is much on performance. But, update that system with excess RAM to the 64-bit version of Windows, and you will notice a difference.
This ought to spell it out in probably the starkest way: the officially supported maximum RAM on Windows ten is actually 2 terabytes (or 128GB on Windows ten Home).
The theoretical limit of RAM at 64-bit: 16 exabytes. That is equal to 1 million terabytes or perhaps one billion gigabytes. however, we're a long way from having hardware that could actually support that. (Either way, it can make purchasing a new laptop with 16GB of RAM seem unimpressive, does not it?)
64-bit computing features many other improvements, however, in ways that could not be noticeable to the naked eye.
Wider data paths, larger integer sizes, eight-octet memory addresses. It's all stuff for the computer system scientists to take advantage of, to create your computing all the more powerful.
Programs in 64 Bits You might also notice that some software programs you download for your desktop operating system come in 32- and 64-bit versions.
Firefox is a really good example, where the choices are actually "Windows 32 bit" and "Windows 64 bit" (as well as "Linux" or "Linux 64-bit" - the macOS version is actually 64-bit only).
Firefox Download - 64-bit
Why do that? Because 32-bit OSes are still out there for some. Those systems need to have 32 bit software - they typically can't even use a 64-bit program, and obviously will not run them.
Nevertheless, a 64 bit OS could support a 32-bit program - Windows in particular has built in an emulation subsystem for that, called Windows32 on Windows64, or even WoW64.
RELATED
Windows on Qualcomm Gets 64 Bit App Support
How you can Run 32-Bit Apps in macOS Catalina
Intel Celebrates x86 40th Anniversary with 5GHz Core i7 Look in your C: drive sometime - you will see 2 Program Folders: one for 64 bit programs, another called Program Folders (x86) just for 32-bit applications. You'll be kind of astounded how much 32-bit code is still out there.
On the Mac, you are not as likely to find much 32-bit-ness, which is why Apple is actually banning 32 bit apps under Catalina, or at least attempting. although you are able to check the apps of yours.
On the Apple menu, select About this Mac, click System Report, and also highlight all the applications listed under Software.
Each will have a "64 bit (Intel)" entry reading Yes or even No. Most are actually likely to be Yes. If you have an essential plan which claims No, avoid Catalina for now or perhaps read our workarounds.
A Bit About Mobile 64-Bit As noted above, Apple's A7 chip was the first 64 bit processor to get into a mobile phone (the iPhone 5s). In 2015, Apple mandated that all iOS software had to go 64.
As of June 2016, opening a 32 bit app in the latest versions of iOS caused a "not optimized" warning: "using it might have an effect on overall system performance."
If you've got an iPhone 5s or higher with iOS 10 or perhaps higher, you can't use those older 32 bit apps that have not had an update. That's the "best" thing about Apple's closed system - it is able to force that to happen.
On Android phones, it may be a little trickier to uncover details unless you're well-versed on what chip is actually inside. In the event that you are not running Android 5.0 Lollipop or even newer, you're 32-bit.
One app that will tell you is AnTuTu Benchmark; stuff it, click the Info button, and look for the Android line. It'll tell you the Android version and in case it is 64-bit or 32-.
For Android and iOS, this is not about opening up the OS to using more RAM. In fact, going x64 is not an assurance of better performance.
Going 64-bit has other benefits - things like fetching much more data per cycle (and faster), better encryption, and overall moving to new 64-bit chips with improved features, like power efficiency.
Ultimately, the 64 bit revolution is already here. And you do not need to know anything about x64 to be a part of it.
Keep going exponentially and you eventually get 32 bit (2 to the 32nd power) worth 4,294,967,296; 64 bit (or 2 to the 64th power) is actually worth 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 values. That is 18.4 quintillion and change.
That's a considerable amount of bits, and the figures show just how much more effective a chip that supports higher-bit computing can be. It's a much more than double.
That is because every couple of years, the chips inside the computers (even the software application and smartphones) working on those chips make leaps forward in supporting a new number. For example:
The Intel 8080 chip in the 1970s supported 8-bit computing.
In 1992, Windows 3.1 was the first 16-bit desktop version of Windows.
AMD shipped the very first 64 bit desktop chip in 2003.
Apple made Mac OS X Snow Leopard entirely 64-bit in 2009.
The initial smartphone with a 64-bit chip (Apple A7) was the iPhone 5s in 2014.
It is pretty obvious: 64-bit, sometimes styled as x64, is actually capable of doing more than 32-bit. You may recognize 32-bit as x86, a buzz word that originally referred to any OS with the instruction set to work on Intel chips like the 8086 through 80486.
These days, you are most likely already running 64-bit chips with 64 bit operating systems, which subsequently run 64 bit apps (for mobile) or perhaps programs (on the desktop, to settle on some nomenclature). But not always. Windows seven, eight, 8.1, and ten all came in 32 bit or 64-bit designs, for instance.
How do you even tell which one you have?
Identify a 64-Bit OS If you are running Windows on a laptop less than 10 years old, your chip is almost certain to be 64 bit, though you might have installed a 32 bit version of the OS. It is not difficult enough to check out.
In Windows 10, go to Settings > System > About or type About in the Windows ten search box. Under the Device specifications heading, you'll see it at System type: "64-bit operating system, x64 based processor" means you're closed.
64-Bit Windows ten
Mac end users do not have to be concerned about this, as MacOS has been 64-bit only for a long time. In reality, as of the latest version (10.14 Catalina) 32-bit uses on a Mac aren't even technically supported, though we've a guide for running 32-Bit apps in MacOS Catalina. In the event you need to.
Why 32 Bit at All?
Why would you install a 32-bit OS on a PC? The main reason is actually as you've a 32 bit processor, which involves a 32-bit OS.
Having such a CPU today is actually unlikely. Intel started making 32-bit processors in the 80386 range way back in 1985; it was selling 64-bit processors by 2001.
If you have bought a pc since the Pentium D chip came out in 2005, it is not likely you'd have just a 32 bit instruction set inside.
Even more likely, you have a well used system with an operating system you installed that only came as 32-bit. Subsequent upgrades, if any, might not have jumped your install up to 64 bit.
That could be fine - not all of the earliest 64-bit processors had all the features in place. You can figure out whether your PC is really prepared for full 64 bit by using software like 64bit Checker. It does work on all versions of Windows going back to Windows 95.
Installing a 32-bit OS on a 64-bit-architecture system is able to work, however, it's not optimal. A 32-bit OS, for example, has far more limitations - the standout being it is able to only really utilize 4GB of RAM.
Installing more RAM on a system with a 32-bit OS doesn't have impact that is much on performance. But, update that system with excess RAM to the 64-bit version of Windows, and you will notice a difference.
This ought to spell it out in probably the starkest way: the officially supported maximum RAM on Windows ten is actually 2 terabytes (or 128GB on Windows ten Home).
The theoretical limit of RAM at 64-bit: 16 exabytes. That is equal to 1 million terabytes or perhaps one billion gigabytes. however, we're a long way from having hardware that could actually support that. (Either way, it can make purchasing a new laptop with 16GB of RAM seem unimpressive, does not it?)
64-bit computing features many other improvements, however, in ways that could not be noticeable to the naked eye.
Wider data paths, larger integer sizes, eight-octet memory addresses. It's all stuff for the computer system scientists to take advantage of, to create your computing all the more powerful.
Programs in 64 Bits You might also notice that some software programs you download for your desktop operating system come in 32- and 64-bit versions.
Firefox is a really good example, where the choices are actually "Windows 32 bit" and "Windows 64 bit" (as well as "Linux" or "Linux 64-bit" - the macOS version is actually 64-bit only).
Firefox Download - 64-bit
Why do that? Because 32-bit OSes are still out there for some. Those systems need to have 32 bit software - they typically can't even use a 64-bit program, and obviously will not run them.
Nevertheless, a 64 bit OS could support a 32-bit program - Windows in particular has built in an emulation subsystem for that, called Windows32 on Windows64, or even WoW64.
RELATED
Windows on Qualcomm Gets 64 Bit App Support
How you can Run 32-Bit Apps in macOS Catalina
Intel Celebrates x86 40th Anniversary with 5GHz Core i7 Look in your C: drive sometime - you will see 2 Program Folders: one for 64 bit programs, another called Program Folders (x86) just for 32-bit applications. You'll be kind of astounded how much 32-bit code is still out there.
On the Mac, you are not as likely to find much 32-bit-ness, which is why Apple is actually banning 32 bit apps under Catalina, or at least attempting. although you are able to check the apps of yours.
On the Apple menu, select About this Mac, click System Report, and also highlight all the applications listed under Software.
Each will have a "64 bit (Intel)" entry reading Yes or even No. Most are actually likely to be Yes. If you have an essential plan which claims No, avoid Catalina for now or perhaps read our workarounds.
A Bit About Mobile 64-Bit As noted above, Apple's A7 chip was the first 64 bit processor to get into a mobile phone (the iPhone 5s). In 2015, Apple mandated that all iOS software had to go 64.
As of June 2016, opening a 32 bit app in the latest versions of iOS caused a "not optimized" warning: "using it might have an effect on overall system performance."
If you've got an iPhone 5s or higher with iOS 10 or perhaps higher, you can't use those older 32 bit apps that have not had an update. That's the "best" thing about Apple's closed system - it is able to force that to happen.
On Android phones, it may be a little trickier to uncover details unless you're well-versed on what chip is actually inside. In the event that you are not running Android 5.0 Lollipop or even newer, you're 32-bit.
One app that will tell you is AnTuTu Benchmark; stuff it, click the Info button, and look for the Android line. It'll tell you the Android version and in case it is 64-bit or 32-.
For Android and iOS, this is not about opening up the OS to using more RAM. In fact, going x64 is not an assurance of better performance.
Going 64-bit has other benefits - things like fetching much more data per cycle (and faster), better encryption, and overall moving to new 64-bit chips with improved features, like power efficiency.
Ultimately, the 64 bit revolution is already here. And you do not need to know anything about x64 to be a part of it.
