Computer Hardware
 
Forums: » Register « |  User CP |  Games |  Calendar |  Members |  FAQs |  Sitemap |  Support | 
User Name:
Password:
Remember me

The Shed is going Social! Join us on FaceBook and Twitter and chime in on the conversation.

Go Back   Dev Shed ForumsComputer HardwareComputer Hardware

Reply
Add This Thread To:
  Del.icio.us   Digg   Google   Spurl   Blink   Furl   Simpy   Y! MyWeb 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
 
Unread Dev Shed Forums Sponsor:
  #1  
Old January 4th, 2013, 10:56 PM
Avichal Avichal is offline
Registered User
Dev Shed Newbie (0 - 499 posts)
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 19 Avichal User rank is Just a Lowly Private (1 - 20 Reputation Level) 
Time spent in forums: 3 h 51 m 41 sec
Reputation Power: 0
What do you mean by 32-bit and 64-bit machine?

As far as I understand it is the length of memory addresses, integers etc.
So if my computer is 32-bit integer can have maximum value of 4,294,967,295 which is the maximum 32bits can store right?

But I have heard a lot about games which require 4gb ram(which is 32bits) but will also run on 2gb ram. Whats going on here?

Also why instruction set architecture changes as we move to 64-bit system.(x86-32 to x86-64)?

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old January 4th, 2013, 11:20 PM
portcitysoftwar portcitysoftwar is offline
Contributing User
Dev Shed Newbie (0 - 499 posts)
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 163 portcitysoftwar User rank is Sergeant (500 - 2000 Reputation Level)portcitysoftwar User rank is Sergeant (500 - 2000 Reputation Level)portcitysoftwar User rank is Sergeant (500 - 2000 Reputation Level)portcitysoftwar User rank is Sergeant (500 - 2000 Reputation Level)portcitysoftwar User rank is Sergeant (500 - 2000 Reputation Level) 
Time spent in forums: 1 Day 13 h 18 m 54 sec
Reputation Power: 17
The bits is how large of a chunk a processor can process at a time. So a 32 bit processor takes 32bit input and 32 bit output.

The major reason for the upgrade to 64 bit processing was due to the memory restraints of 32 bit processors. A 32 bit processor in theory can only allow up to 4gb in data pointers meaning that you can not exceed 4gb of ram on a 32bit system. Where 64bit in theory can handle 192gb of ram.

And as far as architecture both use the X86 command set just 32 bit or 64bit variants of such. Where a X86-64 can also process X86-32 applications

Quote:
Originally Posted by Avichal
As far as I understand it is the length of memory addresses, integers etc.
So if my computer is 32-bit integer can have maximum value of 4,294,967,295 which is the maximum 32bits can store right?

But I have heard a lot about games which require 4gb ram(which is 32bits) but will also run on 2gb ram. Whats going on here?

Also why instruction set architecture changes as we move to 64-bit system.(x86-32 to x86-64)?

Reply With Quote
Reply

Viewing: Dev Shed ForumsComputer HardwareComputer Hardware > What do you mean by 32-bit and 64-bit machine?

Developer Shed Advertisers and Affiliates



Thread Tools  Search this Thread 
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes  Rate This Thread 
Rate This Thread:


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
View Your Warnings | New Posts | Latest News | Latest Threads | Shoutbox
Forum Jump

Forums: » Register « |  User CP |  Games |  Calendar |  Members |  FAQs |  Sitemap |  Support | 
  
 


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

© 2003-2013 by Developer Shed. All rights reserved. DS Cluster - Follow our Sitemap