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Onjit

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Joined: 2015-02-15

Posts: 9,709

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What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

I know that my Windows 7 computer is 32 bit, but what's the difference? Is one better than the other? etc?

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0176

Member

From: Brazil

Joined: 2021-09-05

Posts: 3,174

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

Copypasta from Microsoft's website:

What is the difference between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows?
The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer's processor (also called a CPU), handles information. The 64-bit version of Windows handles large amounts of random access memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit system. For more details, go to A description of the differences between 32-bit versions of Windows Vista and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista online.

Basically having a 64-bit Windows helps when you have a decent amount of RAM and are multitasking, but I'd like if anybody who actually knows something about computer answers this.

Last edited by 0176 (Jan 5 2013 6:05:39 pm)

Bimps

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Joined: 2015-02-08

Posts: 5,067

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

64 is more, so must be better (offtopic: 1900th post )

Tako

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From: Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Joined: 2015-08-10

Posts: 6,663

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Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

It's the amount of buses that are attached to your processor.

Since buses carry information, you can assume that a 64-bit can perform 200% faster than a 32-bit, and 400% faster than a 16-bit.

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Yeah, well, you know that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

NR2001

Guest

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

32 bit: Old, ok, well known, common
64 bit: Newer, faster, more RAM (Windows Server supports 2 TB of it (2000 GB)), better overall

AzurePudding

Guest

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

It's the amount of buses that are attached to your processor.

Since buses carry information, you can assume that a 64-bit can perform 200% faster than a 32-bit, and 400% faster than a 16-bit.

Are you sure about that?   I don't know much about computers, but as a spriter, I know 32-bit isn't twice as better as 16-bit which isn't twice as beter as 8-bit.

Different55

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Joined: 2015-02-07

Posts: 16,575

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

i know the Nintendo 64 was 64 bit but didn't actually use of very much and that's about it.

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"Sometimes failing a leap of faith is better than inching forward"
- ShinsukeIto

AzurePudding

Guest

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

i know the Nintendo 64 was 64 bit but didn't actually use of very much and that's about it.

If I remember correctly, 8-bit sprites have a limit of 3 colors, and 16-bit can use at least 12 colors, I think.   I don't know about 64-bit.

8-bit shot:
16-bit shot:
The 16-bit shot looks more than double the detail of the 8-bit shot.

32OrtonEdge32dh

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From: DMV

Joined: 2015-02-15

Posts: 5,166

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Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

The difference between 32-bit and 64-bit is about 32 bits.

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Different55

Forum Admin

Joined: 2015-02-07

Posts: 16,575

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

i know the Nintendo 64 was 64 bit but didn't actually use of very much and that's about it.

If I remember correctly, 8-bit sprites have a limit of 3 colors, and 16-bit can use at least 12 colors, I think.   I don't know about 64-bit.

8-bit shot: http://www.nesmaps.com/maps/SuperMarioB … een1-1.png
16-bit shot: http://sonic.neoseeker.com/w/i/sonic/th … vaReef.png
The 16-bit shot looks more than double the detail of the 8-bit shot.

Are we talking about color depth now?
8 bit images have a max limit of 256.
16 bit images have a max limit of 65,536 colors.
24 bit images have a limit of 16,777,216 colors.
The highest I can find is 48 bit with a limit of ~281,500,000,000,000 possible colors. There's really no point to this since your eyes stopped being able to tell the difference a long time ago.

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"Sometimes failing a leap of faith is better than inching forward"
- ShinsukeIto

AzurePudding

Guest

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

i know the Nintendo 64 was 64 bit but didn't actually use of very much and that's about it.

If I remember correctly, 8-bit sprites have a limit of 3 colors, and 16-bit can use at least 12 colors, I think.   I don't know about 64-bit.

8-bit shot: http://www.nesmaps.com/maps/SuperMarioB … een1-1.png
16-bit shot: http://sonic.neoseeker.com/w/i/sonic/th … vaReef.png
The 16-bit shot looks more than double the detail of the 8-bit shot.

Are we talking about color depth now?
8 bit images have a max limit of 256.
16 bit images have a max limit of 65,536 colors.
24 bit images have a limit of 16,777,216 colors.
The highest I can find is 48 bit with a limit of ~281,500,000,000,000 possible colors. There's really no point to this since your eyes stopped being able to tell the difference a long time ago.

Well TakoMan said you can assume 64 bit is 200% better than 32-bit.   So I mentioned colors that the different bit types can allow.   What you just posted proves that.

Jeffburtonfan

Guest

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umYvFdU54Po

Perfect video to explain this topic. I think it's worth checking out.

Miasmic

Formerly Boh

Joined: 2015-02-15

Posts: 195

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

With 32-bit systems the amount of RAM you can use is limited [3 - 4 gb i think] even if you have more RAM installed it won't use it. 64-bit systems can use huge amounts of RAM [ like billions of gigabytes if you really wanted to, though most people with 64-bit comps probably have about 8-16 gb ram]

So - 64-bit uses lots of RAM, doesn't need to use virtual memory, doesn't need to wait for one task to finish before starting another one - faster computerizingz.
[super techy people pls correct me if i explained this badly]

Ratburntro44

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Joined: 1970-01-01

Posts: 1,383

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Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

With 32-bit systems the amount of RAM you can use is limited [3 - 4 gb i think] even if you have more RAM installed it won't use it. 64-bit systems can use huge amounts of RAM [ like billions of gigabytes if you really wanted to, though most people with 64-bit comps probably have about 8-16 gb ram]

Although 32-bit systems can use plenty more with things like PAE or PSE.

Undead04

Guest

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1WnjQpuexU

A video explaining most or all of this.

Tako

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From: Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Joined: 2015-08-10

Posts: 6,663

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Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

Well TakoMan said you can assume 64 bit is 200% better than 32-bit.   So I mentioned colors that the different bit types can allow.   What you just posted proves that.

No; I said faster. I was talking about speed, not amount of colors you can make. Both 32 and 64 have, as Different55 pointed out, so many colors that you probably can't tell a difference.

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Yeah, well, you know that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

Different55

Forum Admin

Joined: 2015-02-07

Posts: 16,575

Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

Well TakoMan said you can assume 64 bit is 200% better than 32-bit.   So I mentioned colors that the different bit types can allow.   What you just posted proves that.

No; I said faster. I was talking about speed, not amount of colors you can make. Both 32 and 64 have, as Different55 pointed out, so many colors that you probably can't tell a difference.

after 24bit its overkill.

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"Sometimes failing a leap of faith is better than inching forward"
- ShinsukeIto

Onjit

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Joined: 2015-02-15

Posts: 9,709

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Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1WnjQpuexU

A video explaining most or all of this.

Thanks, this was helpful

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Onjit

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Joined: 2015-02-15

Posts: 9,709

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Re: What's the difference between 32 bit and 64 bit computers?

this thread is now closed

goodbye

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