32-Bit and 64-Bit Processor

7/31/2019 32-Bit and 64-Bit Processor

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The term "32-bit" and 64-bit" refers tothe number of bits a computer processoruses when processing data andperforming calculations. So, it can be veryeasily concluded that a 32 bit processorcan represent numbers from 0 to 232,

while 64 bit processors can representnumbers from 0 to 264 .


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A processor is a primary chip inside a computer andit contains the digital circuitry. A processorexecutes all the programs and the instructions

inside the computer. The processor is alsoembedded in the small devices and in the personalcomputers and is known as microprocessor. Itsspeed is measured in the Gigahertz. Higher the

processors speed, the more instructions it canprocess in less time. It is also known as the centralprocessing unit (CPU).


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The CPU is directly insertedin the CPU socket on themotherboard.

The form, design, speed and the implementations of theCPUs have changed dramatically but their basicfunctionalities are the same. Every CPU consists of thefollowing two important components.

Arithmetic Logic Unit

It performs the logical and the arithmetic operations. Control Unit It extracts the instructions from memory and executes

them.

CPU


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A 32-bit processor is essentially a chip thatprocesses data with a lane that is 32 bits wide.This means that any instructions that passthrough the processor at any one time can beup to 32 bits.A 32-bit microprocessor can process data and

memory addresses that are represented by 32bits.


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A 64 bit processor has a data bus that is 64 bit wide,a 64 bit processor's data bus can carry moreinformation than that which can be done by the 32bit processor's data bus. 64 bit processors turn out

to be very useful for the scientific organizations,universities and major software developmentfirms. They can perform calculations on a widerrange of data and can give more accurate

information for smaller numbers. 64-bit computerarchitecture provides higher performance than

32-bit architecture.


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As the number of bits increases there are twoimportant benefits.

More bits means that data can be processed inlarger chunks which also means more accurately.

More bits means our system can address a largernumber of locations in physical memory.

The advanced silicon technology makes the 64 bitprocessor better than the 32 bit processor, with

which they are manufactured.


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There are 3 most obvious advantages of 64-bit processorsover 32-bit processors:

1. Extended address space,

2. Capacity increase3. Bigger number of general-purpose registers.


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A 32-bit OS will run on a 32-bit or 64-bit processorwithout any problem.

A 32-bit application will run on a 32-bit or 64-bit

OS without any problem. But a 64-bit application will only run on a 64-bit

OS and a 64-bit OS will only run on a 64-bitprocessor.

The main reason that 32-bit will always run on 64-bit is thatthe 64-bit components have been designed to work that

way. So the newer 64-bit systems are backward-compatiblewith the 32-bit systems.


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Table 1What is compatible if I have a 32-bit CPU?

Processor (CPU) 32-bit 32-bit 32-bit 32-bit

Operating System (OS) 32-bit 32-bit 64-bit 64-bit

Application Program 32-bit 64-bit 32-bit 64-bit

Yes No No No

Table 2What is compatible if I have a 64-bit CPU?

Processor (CPU) 64-bit 64-bit 64-bit 64-bit

Operating System (OS) 64-bit 64-bit 32-bit 32-bitApplication Program 64-bit 32-bit 32-bit 64-bit

Yes Yes Yes No


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32-Bit and 64-Bit Processor

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