64-bit system - what is it? Overview, description, comparison

Undoubtedly, today it is difficult to find a PC user who would not have encountered the concept of "64-bit system". What is it, not everyone can clearly answer, although almost everyone has heard about it. Let's try to understand this issue and clarify the situation. As an example for further reasoning and comparison, let's take the popular Windows 7 64 and 32 bit OS. Also we'll see what their difference is, and we'll touch on the burning issues of increasing the computer's performance.

64-bit system: what is it in general?

Now, perhaps, we will not go into specific computer terms, but try to explain the understanding of digit capacity, so to speak, in simple human language.

What is the bit capacity in general? As it is already clear, it is expressed in bits, but it is necessary to consider this not only from the point of view of the system itself (Windows 7 64 bit, for example), but also with peripheral devices (roughly speaking the "iron" filling of any computer). Thus, the simplest conclusion is that bit capacity is the number of bits that can be processed by such devices simultaneously, provided that the system is also able to send such requests. Naturally, this is the simplest treatment.

32-bit or 64-bit system: what's the difference?

In order to fully understand the difference between systems with different bitterness, it is necessary to make a short digression into the history of the development of computer technology, in particular, processor chips.

At the dawn of evolution, all the processors produced at that time had a bit capacity of 8 bits, that is, they could process only 8 bits of information simultaneously. The revolution was accomplished when they were replaced by 32-bit chipsets, which, incidentally, due to their versatility, are still in use. Even after quite a long time, there appeared processor chips with the architecture of 64 bits, but this, as it turns out, is not the limit, because in the near future we are promised the appearance of 128-bit processors and the OS created for them.

There is an interesting fact. Previously, 32-bit systems were designated as "x32", then the abbreviation "x86" was adopted. Why and for what purpose it was done, no one knows for sure. Nevertheless, today you can easily compare, say, Windows 7 32 bit and a similar version of 64 bits. Externally on the interface, they do not differ at all. But in the program plan, the difference is quite substantial.

The fact is that 64-bit Windows systems have in their arsenal some components and capabilities that are not available in 32-bit versions. The simplest example is the Hyper-V hypervisor universal module, which is a virtual machine that can install child OSes (even those that are different from Windows), and also test hardware or software without affecting the underlying system.

But this is only one aspect. In fact, everything is much more complicated and more relevant to processors and RAM.

Processor Support

As for processor chips, naturally, 64-bit devices have faster performance. However, one should pay attention to the fact that on a computer with a processor that does not support this bit capacity, 64-bit Windows simply will not be installed. Actually, this is one

From system requirements points.

But with x64 architecture, it's much more convenient to manage processors and their parameters. For example, you can easily use all the cores to speed up the processing of data and commands, or include a virtual thread of processing called Hyper Threading.

Maximum amount of RAM

But here we come to one of the most urgent questions concerning the scope of the "operative". The difference, for example, between Windows 7 32 bit and x64 version immediately manifests itself in that 32-bit systems do not support the installation of RAM with a volume exceeding 4 GB.

In other words, how many do not put the slats there, they will not even be defined at the "iron" level. And it is this limitation that creates quite a lot of problems in the development and correct operation of resource-intensive programs and applications, when higher efficiency is required.

But 64-bit version of Windows 7 (or any other system) can work with quite large volumes of "RAM". For example, the version of Windows 7 Maximum "sees" up to 128 GB, Professional - up to 192 GB, although, in principle, it is considered that these restrictions are very arbitrary. And if you look into the near future, you can imagine how much "RAM" can perceive systems with the architecture of 128 bits.

To see if there is support for 64-bit architecture in the configuration, you can use the "Control Panel", where the section of counters and performance tools is selected. Next, the menu is used to display and print detailed results. It is there that 64-bit support is indicated.

Performance issues

Now let's look at the bit depth of the OS and the compatibility with the hardware on the other side. The higher bit capacity does not mean that the performance will be better at a certain configuration, even if it meets the minimum requirements, when installing a 64-bit OS, than with the installation of the same version, but with a 32-bit architecture.

It's easy to guess that 64-bit systems consume more memory, both operational and virtual. We give a simple explanation. Suppose we have a computer or laptop with 2 GB of RAM installed. The 64-bit "seven" itself consumes an average of 768 MB (with default settings). This includes 64-bit user applications and applications. Depending on the complexity and resource intensity, the "eaten" volume can fluctuate within a fairly wide range. But all the same and so it is clear that the speed is reduced to almost zero. In this case, as a partial solution, you can use the installation of 32-bit applications in a 64-bit system, reducing the load of "RAM" and the processor.

Versatility

So, we have a 64-bit system. What it is, I think, is already a little clear. Now let's move on to one more pressing issue related to the operation of applications and user programs.

Here everything is simple: 64-bit systems can be installed in 32-bit applications (sometimes it can become a key factor in ensuring of correct work), but you can not install 64-bit programs in systems with architecture, alas.

But when using the schemes of combining 32-bit programs and 64-bit systems, the performance gain of the application will be quite significant. In particular, this applies to multimedia. For example, when working with sound, ASIO4ALL drivers (sometimes ASIO DX Full Duplex) are very often used, which in themselves are quite heavy, especially when using the maximum buffer that corresponds to the total amount of RAM, though not expressed in megabytes, but in samples. If the 64-bit plug-in is installed, the load increases. But if you put the version in 32-bit, the plug-in or the program will simply "fly". And this is not the only example. About the games, speech now does not go at all, there too, its "lotions" are enough.

By the way, in order to see which OS version is installed on the computer, you do not need to go far. The usual right click on the computer icon with the selection of the properties menu, will present the necessary information.

Switching from a 32-bit system to a 64-bit system

If we consider the transition from one architecture to another (from the lowest to the highest), one should take into account the fact that Windows-systems, for example, the same "seven" involves changing the file system from FAT32 to NTFS.

Roughly speaking, FAT32 it does not get up at all. On custom documents created, say, in office applications, it does not affect. The same goes for programs, but only if the 64-bit system is put on top of the existing 32-bit system, but with the existing NTFS file system. As a rule, such a transition is quite simple and painless. Otherwise, if you change the file system, you will need to reinstall.

Reverse transition

But there is no way to reverse the transition from 64 bits to 32 without changing the file system. In this case, you will have to completely format the partition to which the 32-bit version of the system will be installed. It goes without saying that such a process will entail the destruction of all available data. Therefore, not to mention the reinstallation of programs and applications, before installation it is necessary to copy important files and documents, either to another logical partition, or to an available removable media (flash drive, memory card, optical disk).

When should I install a 64-bit OS?

The expediency of installing 64-bit OS directly depends on the "iron" configuration of the computer or laptop. Of course, you can put the same 64-bit "seven" on terminals that meet the minimum requirements (the corresponding type of 2-core processor, at least 2 GB of RAM and free disk space, depending on the version being installed).

But it's better to pay attention to the recommended parameters, and even generally take a somewhat overstated configuration (at least 4 GB of RAM). Believe me, it will not hurt.

Software Issues

If until recently, for 64-bit systems, in general. Few released the drivers, not to mention the software products, today almost all leading software developers are focused primarily on these systems. "Operating systems" with 32-bit architecture slowly, but surely, are a thing of the past, although they still remain quite popular (the same Windows XP SP3 or 32-bit "seven").

And if in the coming years there will be architecture of 128 bits, it will be possible to forget about systems and processors having at their disposal unfortunate 32 bits completely. And these are not empty words, after all, as is known, technical progress is not worth it in place, but moves, so to speak, with leaps and bounds.

Instead of an afterword

Here we are in brief and considered the topic "64-bit system: what is this?". Here, for a better understanding, special emphasis was not placed on computer vocabulary and terminology. However, based on the above, everyone can draw certain conclusions for themselves, in particular, it should be noted that the installation and use of a 64-bit system is not always justified on weak or minimal configurations.

Finally, it should be noted that the update of the 64-bit system, in fact, is no different from the 32-bit version, only the service responsible for this process downloads and installs the necessary modules and components designed specifically for this architecture. And, as it is already clear, there is no visual difference between the different versions, they appear only at the program level.