32-bit system or 64 - which is better? Overview, description, characteristics and reviews

In today's computer market, there is a steady trend: instead of 32-bit operating systems, 64-bit operating systems are gaining popularity. Accordingly, the hardware manufacturers for PCs are starting to produce "hardware", adapted to the specificity of the corresponding software products. What are the features of a 64-bit OS? Which OS is characterized by higher performance - 32-bit system or 64? What is better for a modern user?

What is the difference between 32 and 64 bits?

To start with a few facts. Before determining which OS type is preferable - the 32-bit system or 64, which is better of them - we investigate what they really are.

Digital information is transmitted in bits that are zeros or ones. With the help of 1 bit, it is possible to encrypt 2 commands. In turn, with the help of 32 bits the number of possible commands increases by several tens of degrees. If we are talking about 64 bits - even more. Thus, it becomes obvious, for example, which Windows - 32 or 64-bit, is faster. Microsoft releases OS versions of both types. Are there any fundamental differences between them in the aspect of the interface and other nuances of the work?

Are there differences between 32-bit and 64-bit OS in terms of usage?

Relatively speaking, which "seven" is better - 32 or 64-bit, in terms of ease of management? In principle, there is no difference in this aspect between the specified versions of Windows. All the differences between them boil down to supporting the teams. Processing of such is carried out almost imperceptibly for the user. As we noted above, 64-bit commands predetermine a higher bit rate for digital data. However, this parameter is not the only criterion for the efficiency of a computer system. A number of other aspects of OS operation are important, such as, for example, stability, universality, resource intensity, support level of various hardware components.

Let's study what OS has more advantages for a modern user - 32-bit system or 64. What is better from the point of view of launching popular games and programs?

Comparison of 32 and 64-bit OS: stability

The stability of the OS is predetermined primarily by the quality of the interaction of the corresponding operating system and the hardware components of the PC. In many ways, its level depends on the compatibility of the OS with the drivers produced by the manufacturer of a device. In this aspect, the difference between the 32-bit and 64-bit systems can be significant, and the brand that released some hardware component for the 32-bit OS may need time to prepare and test the driver for the 64-bit operating system.

Note that the world's leading hardware manufacturers "iron" as a whole successfully avoid situations in which the owner of a 64-bit OS can not find the required software for the purchased device. But this thesis is true mainly in relation to new devices. Those that were purchased before the mass distribution of 64-bit PCs - around the beginning of 2010 - can not always be correctly installed due to the lack of actual drivers.

Comparison of 32 and 64-bit OS: universality

An operating system that belongs to the category of 32 or 64-bit solutions requires installation on a PC that can ensure the operation of the corresponding OS. That is, it is possible to install the 32-bit OS correctly only on a PC with a 32-bit processor. The same pattern is typical for 64-bit operating systems. In this sense, there is no mutual compatibility between operating systems in general, and their universality becomes limited.

Resource capacity

The work of any OS requires hardware resources - first of all the processing power of the processor, as well as the amount of RAM. Which system is better - 32 or 64-bit - in terms of resource intensity? Above we noted that a bit is a data unit. If we are talking about information of a large volume, then, in order to work with it, additional resources will be required. Therefore, it is quite natural that 32-bit OSes are much less demanding on resources than 64-bit ones. If, for example, 2 GB of RAM for a computer with a 32-bit operating system, in principle, is considered a normal indicator, then for a fully functioning 64-bit OS this resource is minimal. It is desirable that the amount of RAM was 4 GB or more.

As for processor resources, in principle, if we are talking about 64-bit chips, then in their structure there are necessary technological components in order to satisfy the OS's need for computational speed. Therefore, you can not say that 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows are fundamentally different in terms of CPU consumption.

Hardware Support

Above we noted that to work correctly 64-bit OS on the computer must be the current driver. But their availability ensures the stability of the PC primarily at the software level. It is also necessary that the OS has hardware compatibility with the key components of the hardware. As for such devices, such as graphics accelerator, network card, printer - from the point of view of compatibility with such devices it does not matter what OS is on the computer.

In turn, if we are talking about the support of RAM modules - the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems can be significant. The fact is that the 32-bit OS does not support RAM modules larger than 4 GB. In turn, 64-bit OS are compatible with those in full.

Another thing is whether in practice the user will need to use memory resources exceeding 4 GB. If the PC is used mainly to work with the Internet, office applications, then the need to use even half of the specified amount of RAM may not occur. Another thing is if the PC is used for games. Let's consider what OS can be preferable in this case.

Which OS is best for gaming?

What is the best system for the game - 32 or 64-bit? Given the full hardware and software compatibility of the installed OS with "hardware", higher performance, in view of the objective reasons that we indicated above, in general there will be a 64-bit OS.

But this rule has an exception: in the algorithms of the program code, the game itself should support 64-bit commands. If this criterion is not met, then the user will most likely not notice the practical difference in the comfort of the game process.

Which OS is best for applications?

Which OS, in turn, is more optimal for running applications - a 32-bit system or 64? What's better? In this case, the regularity is about the same as in the case of games.

If the user has a 64-bit PC and the algorithms for processing 64-bit commands are implemented in the program code of the application, then the corresponding software will work faster. If not, then a special difference in the performance of the computer people will not feel.

"Megacities" in priority?

In the environment of modern users the point of view is widespread, according to which a higher speed of the PC can be achieved not by doubling the bits - that is, switching from 32-bit processors and OS to 64-bit ones, and by optimizing hardware resources, directly Affecting the performance of the PC. Such as, for example, the frequency of the processor.

According to many experts and users, in particular, the replacement of a 32-bit chip operating at 1.2 GHz with one that operates at 2.4 GHz can be more efficient than replacing it with a 64-bit microcircuit that works At the same frequency. In some cases, you can also overclock the 32-bit processor - so that the actual speed of its work has grown more noticeable than when replacing the chip with a 64-bit processor.

This approach can be even more justified if the user does not use programs and games adapted to 64-bit commands in their work. Thus, the practical importance of replacing 32-bit software and hardware components with 64-bit ones does not always become obvious.

Summary

So which system is better - 32 or 64 bit? Objectively, the transmission of digital data when using 64-bit commands is faster, and therefore the corresponding OS will generally be more productive than the 32-bit one. But successful use of it requires the PC to meet a number of conditions: the presence of a 64-bit processor (otherwise the 64-bit OS will simply not be installed on the computer), support for the "iron" mode of operation in 64-bit mode, as well as the availability of the necessary drivers for it, , Used on the computer, 64-bit commands.

Reviews about 32-bit and 64-bit PCs

If a 32-bit processor is installed on the PC, only the 32-bit OS will be enabled. But with sufficient hardware performance on the computer, for example, with a high processor frequency, and also with the use of a powerful graphics module, as many users note, you can not even notice the difference between using one or another OS even in modern games.

If you need more performance, then, as we noted above, the more efficient approach may be to increase the corresponding indicators - by replacing the chip or overclocking it than installing a 64-bit processor. Many gamers, discussing the nuances of optimizing the PC on thematic online portals, prefer not to wonder - which operating system is better, 32 or 64-bit. They believe that more importantly - the actual indicators that characterize the performance of individual hardware components of the PC.