An Explanation of 32-Bit versus 64-Bit Processors

Introduction:

When shopping for a computer or looking at your own, you might notice that it says "32 Bit" or "64 Bit,"; so what do these numbers mean?

Basics of a Databus:

You can think of a databus as an actual bus that carries information to different parts of the computer. Databuses can be either internal or external databuses. While internal databuses handle information inside the motherboard, external databuses handle things like peripherals.

What do "32 Bit" and "64 Bit" mean?:

The amount of information these databuses can carry depends on the bit number of the operating system. For example, a 32-bit system has databuses that can carry 32 bits, while 64-bit databuses can carry 64 bits. This means that a higher bit number means databuses can carry more information and increase the computer's performance, which I will explain in the next section.

How Does a Higher Bit Number Affect Performance?:

The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, handles the logic and operations of data. The more data the CPU can process, the more calculations and tasks it can perform so that the computer can run faster. This also means that multitasking is much easier since apps in a 32-bit system may freeze when multitasking.

It is becoming increasingly common for apps and software to be more compatible with 64-bit systems rather than 32-bit systems. This directly affects the performance of many software like videogames and even video editing software.

Checking Your Bits:

Checking whether your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit is quite simple. For a Windows computer, click the windows icon->settings->system->scroll down to the "about" section.

For a Mac, click the button that says Apple menu ->About This Mac->locate the processor's name. If the processor is an Intel Core Solo or Intel Core Duo, it is a 32-bit processor. Otherwise, the processor is 64-bits.

Conclusion:

The bit number of a system affects performance directly; the lower the bit number, the less information the computer can handle per second, and the lower the performance is.