64-bit computing
In computer science, 64-bit computing refers to a microprocessor's data stream.[1] It means an operating system can use more computer memory at one time. This makes a 64-bit system much faster than a 32-bit system. A 32-bit system can only use up to 3.56 gigabytes of random-access memory (called RAM or memory).[2] A 64-bit system can use much more memory making it considerably faster.[2] Using an analogy, a 64-bit system is like a 64 lane highway.[3] If each bit were a car, it means 64 of them can move at the same time.[3]
64-bit Computing Media
Hex dump of the section table in a 64-bit Portable Executable File. A 64-bit word can be expressed as a sequence of 16 hexadecimal digits.
References
- ↑ Jon Stokes, Inside the Machine: An Illustrated Introduction to Microprocessors and (San Francisco, CA: No Starch Press, 2007), p. 181
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Woody Leonhard. "32-Bit Versus 64-Bit Versions of Windows 8.1". Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gary B. Shelly; Misty E. Vermaat, Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World, Complete (Boston: Cengage Learning, 2010), p. 237