Most people don’t know the difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit operating system. And in a way it is good, because for the end user that just has to use a browser and listen to music – it doesn’t matter. But for the high end user, who wants to squeeze every drop of his computer’s processing power, knowing the difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit processor and a operating system is vital. And in case you are still stuck with a 32-bit OS, an upgrade to a 64-bit OS is a must. Why though you may ask? The most basic difference is the amount of memory (RAM) that a 32-bit OS can make use of. If you want to use 4 GB of RAM with a 32-bit system – it is not going to work. Even if you install 4 GB modules, due to technical reasons (explained later), the OS will still be able to detect and make use of a maximum of 3.5 GB.

Normally I avoid mathematical calculations to confuse the average user, but here goes. A 32-bit processor can represent numbers from 0 to 2 ^ 32 – 1, i.e. 0 to 4294967295. Now by contrast, a  64-bit processor can process numbers up to 2 ^ 64 – 1, i.e. 0 to 18446744073709551615. What it means that your computer can process larger numbers and be more efficient with smaller numbers. It means that your computer will be fast.

But how does all this affect the average user? Of course the better benefits of 64-bit computing goes to research institutions and companies, where large number crunching calculations are performed. But yes, the average user can exploit the benefits of 64-bit computing.

The figure below explains the differences between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.

Differences between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows

1. Access more RAM: With a 64-bit operating system, your computer can access more than 4 GB of RAM. So if you need to install more than 4 GB of RAM, 64-bit is the way to go.

2. Software comes in two versions: 32-bit and 64-bit. If a 64-bit version of your favorite application is available and you have a 64-bit OS, go for that. The 64-bit software would be faster and the benefits over a 32-bit version in that case are obvious – there will be a visible difference in processing speeds.

3. Some programs such as data encryption software can benefit greatly from 64-bit registers (if the software is 64-bit compiled) and effectively execute 3 to 5 times faster on 64-bit than on 32-bit. (There is a 64-bit version of TrueCrypt available for Linux)

4. A 64-bit OS can run 32-bit applications, there is backward compatibility.

5. Better performance than a 32-bit computer.

6. If you have a 64-bit processor, you are safe for the the near future. 32-bit operating systems are yet to replace 64-bit and you would be already using 64-bit!

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So is 64-bit all glorious? No. There are some drawbacks, however I try to counter them.

1. There are few 64-bit softwares available and to truly take advantage of 64-bit computing, the software has to be 64-bit also.

This is true. There are few softwares available that have support for 64-bit. This a draw  back, meaning that if you use a 32-bit software on a 64-bit machine, there is no significant difference as you would get when you run the same  software on a 32-bit machine. Windows users do suffer the most this end, since support for 64-bit software is limited but Linux has good support for 64-bit computing. There is a 64-bit Google Chrome for Linux, TrueCrypt, Opera and many other commonly used software are available in 64-bit packages. So you benefit in such a case.

2. Driver support: If you use a 64-bit OS, you have to use 64-bit device drivers. 32-bit device drivers, the ones that are usually supplied, won’t work with 64-bit. Before you upgrade ensure that there are 64-bit drivers available for your computer.

3. More RAM: 64-bit operating systems consume more RAM than their 32-bit counterpart. This is due to the fact that the same data occupies more space in memory on a 64-bit machine. Ensure that you have 3 GB and more RAM if you want a smooth experience. Also, the other system requirements maybe higher.

4. Ask yourself? Do you really need to make the switch. If none of the above points bother you, you have a killer system configuration, a 64-bit OS, all the required drivers – I say go for it. You will feel the speed difference from day one.

Making the switch:

Ready to upgrade to 64-bit? Here is how!

1. Ensure that your processor is 64-bit. The best way to check this would be using CPU-Z on Windows. A 64-bit processor is required for you to install a 64-bit operating system.

The other way to check it would be getting the processor model number and checking up on Google. Though the CPU-Z way is recommended.

Check the Wikipedia article on 64-bit processors and see if your model number is compatible.

2. Get a 64-bit operating system.

Windows XP, Vista and 7 all come in 64-bit versions. You need to get your hands on a 64-bit version and install that. You cannot upgrade from a 32-bit version to a 64-bit one.

Linux: Most common Linux distros have support for 64-bit.

64-bit is indicated by x86_64 or AMD64. When downloading software, you should look for this.
32-bit is indicated by x86. Or if nothing is said, the software must be 32-bit only.

3. To have the maximum advantage, get 64-bit software.

All 32-bit software will run on your computer. You may not take advantage of the 64-bit computing however. And don’t worry too much – not all software is available for 64-bit. Install what is and don’t bother about the rest.

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What are your experiences with 64-bit? Do you think it was wise to make the switch? I for one am never going back to 32-bit!

Useful Resources:

A description of the differences between 32-bit versions and 64-bit versions of Windows

Wikipedia’s article on 64-bit computing

Difference between 32-bit and 64-bit processors