This is especially useful in programs that can store a lot of information for immediate access, like image-editing software that opens multiple large files simultaneously.

While the latest versions of a 64-bit operating system can drastically increase a processor’s capabilities, the real jump in power comes from software designed with this architecture in mind.Īpplications and video games that demand high performance already take advantage of the increase in available memory (there’s a reason we recommend 8GB for almost anyone). Even in the ultimate and professional version of the operating system, 4GB is the maximum usable memory the 32-bit version can handle. In Microsoft Windows, the operating system’s basic version puts software limitations on the RAM amount that applications can use. Meanwhile, the first smartphone with a 64-bit chip (Apple A7) was the iPhone 5s. The first fully 64-bit operating system was Mac OS X Snow Leopard in 2009. With an increase in the availability of 64-bit processors and larger RAM capacities, Microsoft and Apple both have upgraded versions of their operating systems designed to take full advantage of the new technology. This Microsoft page runs down memory limitations for multiple versions of Windows, but if you’re running the latest Windows 10, you don’t need to worry about limits. Of course, to achieve this, your operating system also needs to be designed to take advantage of the greater access to memory.

Here’s the key difference: 32-bit processors are perfectly capable of handling a limited amount of RAM (in Windows, 4GB or less), and 64-bit processors can utilize much more. A 64-bit processor can store more computational values, including memory addresses, which means it can access over 4 billion times the physical memory of a 32-bit processor. Simply put, a 64-bit processor is more capable than a 32-bit processor because it can handle more data at once. Fitbit Versa 3īut does it really matter when most new PCs have a 64-bit processor? Here’s the real difference between 32-bit and 64-bit.

Use ms office 32bit or 64bit?