Not surprisingly, many users still don’t know the difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit operating system. It usually pertains to our Personal Computer’s operating system, and we all know that sooner or later it will require troubleshooting and management. With the advancement of technology, a little knowledge will help you understand today’s and tomorrow’s operating systems.
Definitions
32-Bit Operating System
To fully understand how a 32-bit operating system works, it is quite important to know where the term “32-bit” came from. It actually refers to its capability of transferring 32-bits at a time, and in this case, bit is the unit size of information and digital communications being transferred. But while it is capable of transferring those units, the speed of the process will then depend on how much Memory RAM and “Addressable Space” you have.
A 32-bit operating system will run efficiently at 4 GB memory, but no more than that. This is because its architectural design won’t exceed a certain integer value, the addressable space. That integer value refers to your “bit” which is binary (0 or 1). Now if you have a 32-bit, you’ll have 2(0 and 1)32, which would then be equal to 4 billion bytes or 4GiB of addressable space. This limitation will always be in effect either you’re using a 32-bit Windows, 32-bit Linux, or Mac OS X.
One thing to note on this matter is the common misconception about a memory and addressable space. While some may think they are the same, they actually are far from the same. To explain further, simply picture a memory as being the car, and an addressable space being the garage. Even though you own 8 cars, you can only park 4 cars in a 4-car garage. This means that you can have 8 GB of memory and at the same time have only 4 GiB addressable space. The extra 4 GB can now then be swapped in and out of that addressable space while acknowledging its limitations. Also, a 2 GB of RAM can only be allocated through your applications and programs. Meaning if you have a 32-bit Photoshop, it can only access 2 GB of addressable space.
64-Bit Operating System
Now with your 64-bit, the calculations would still be the same as with your 32-bit. So if you now have a 64-bit, you’ll have 264 that would total up to a large 16 Exbibyte (1.1529215 × 109 gigabytes). It would now be your addressable space. However, since most of it won’t be fully utilized, OS’s will have its limits like a 64-bit Windows with a maximum 8 TB.
Even though a 64-bit operating system will have an almost unlimited addressable space, there will still be a limit on how much memory it can fully utilize. That limit will then depend on what OS you’re using and its version/edition. Take Windows 7 Home Basic for instance; it can only use 8 GB of RAM while Windows 7 Ultimate can go up to 192 GB of RAM.
Comparison Chart
| 32-Bit Operating System | 64-bit Operating System |
| Addressable Space of 4 GiB (Can use up to 4 GB of RAM) | Addressable Space of 16 Exbibyte (Can use up to 192 GB of RAM or higher) |
| 64-bit applications/programs won’t work | Most 32-bit applications/programs will work |
| 2 GB physical memory barrier | No limit |
| Not recommended for Multi-tasking and stress-testing | Ideal for Multi-tasking and stress-testing |
| Requires lower RAM to run (1 GB for Windows) | Requires higher RAM to run (2 GB of RAM for Windows) |
| Does not require a 64-bit processor to run | Requires a 64-bit processor to run |
32-bit vs 64-bit Operating System
What’s the difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit operating system? There are actually a lot of differences between the two if we were to consider its architectural design, but focusing on its usage and performance, there are some notable differences.
Starting with its performance, a 64-bit OS would definitely be faster and more reliable. Since a 64-bit operating system can contain more RAM than your 32-bit operating system, heavy applications like Photoshop can run much faster especially when you have more than 4 GB of RAM. Not to mention the fact that a 32-bit OS has a physical memory barrier of 2 GB. Although, when running small applications like MS Word, it will likely have no significant differences.
Now for your usage, 64-bit will again get the upper hand since most 32-bit applications can run with a 64-bit OS, while ALL 64-bit applications won’t run on a 32-bit OS. A good example of a 32-bit application that isn’t compatible would be your Antivirus software. Due to its encryption, it simply won’t run and so will need a 64-bit equivalent.
To summarize, a 64-bit operating system has more functionality than a 32-bit one. You could also say that 32-bit applications are still being made up to this day just because lots of people still use a 32-bit OS.