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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

We Speak Nerd
So You Don't Have To

You are here: Advice Corner » 32 bit vs 64 bit

So, what does this mean and why is 64 bit better? Let me see if I can give an analogy that will help. It won’t be exactly technically correct, but if you are reading this I’m guessing you’d like some useful information not a cure for insomnia.

Inside your processor are 1 or more cores. Most current computers have at least 2 cores. Imagine the core is a tiny Ferris wheel. Each seat on the wheel represents an action that the computer performs. Each seat on the wheel represents 1 bit. So, a 32 bit processor has 32 seats on the wheel and 64 bit, 64 seats.

We fire up our computer and it's tiny Ferris wheels are going great guns! We say to our computer “Ronald“, oh did I mention I call my computer Ronald? Anyway, “Ronald, spell check my Word document!” To correct our spelling, Ronald will have to do 800 actions. If we have a 32 bit Ronald, his Ferris wheel will have to spin 25 times to check our document. If we have a 64 bit Ronald, his wheel need only spin 12.5 times.

Of course the next question is, when your computer freezes does it mean Ronald has stopped the wheel just to see if he can get us to scream like a 14 year old girl stuck on the top. Probably. Ronald can be a bit cheeky.

Hope this helps.

Oh, and I don't really know how many actions happen when you run a spell check and you don't have to call your computer Ronald. In fact, I've been known to use other, much more umm, colorful words when Ronald misbehaves.