Processor, OS : 32bit, 64 bit

Posted by Sandbox on Stack Overflow See other posts from Stack Overflow or by Sandbox
Published on 2009-08-16T08:40:55Z Indexed on 2010/06/14 16:52 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 165

Filed under:

beginner

I am new to programming and come from a non-CS background (no formal degree). I mostly program winforms using C#.

I am confused about 32 bit and 64 bit.... I mean, have heard about 32 bit OS, 32 bit processor and based on which a program can have maximum memory. How it affects the speed of a program. There are lot more questions which keep coming to mind.

I tried to go through some Computer Organization and Architecture books. But, either I am too dumb to understand what is written in there or the writers assume that the reader has some CS background.

Can someone explain me these things in a plain simple English or point me to something which does that.

EDIT: I have read things like In 32-bit mode, they can access up to 4GB memory; in 64-bit mode, they can access much much more....I want to know WHY to all such things.

BOUNTY: Answers below are really good....esp one by Martin. But, I am looking at a thorough explanation, but in plain simple English.

Related posts about beginner

assembly registers beginner

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
So I've been getting into a bit of assembly lately and I'm a beginner so i was wondering if someone could clarify something. I take it every process has it's own set of registers, and each thread can modify these registers right?. How then do multiple threads use the same registers without causing… >>> More
Beginner learning assembly preserving esp after function calls

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
I'm a beginner learning some assembly, when preserving the ESP register before a function call does it matter if you do it by adding or subtracting? hard to explain, consider the following mov esi, esp sub esp, 12 // on 32bit OS this would mean that there are 3 arguments to the function // push,… >>> More
I am a beginner to C and this is the dumbest question..Confused about getchar() function

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Sorry if I am not supposed to post beginner level questions here..I am new to this site Please read the code below first I am confused about getchar() 's role in the following code.. I mean I know its helping me see the output window which will only be closed when I press enter key So getchar()… >>> More
Top 10 Reasons SQL Developer is Perfect for Oracle Beginners

as seen on Oracle Blogs - Search for 'Oracle Blogs'
Learning new technologies can be daunting. If you’ve never used a Mac before, you’ll probably be a bit baffled at first. But, you’re probably at least coming from a desktop computing background (Windows), so you common frame of reference. But what if you’re just now learning… >>> More
Would you recommend Head First Programming for someone new?

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
My brother is just starting out college. He's studying the same thing I am here in Bolivia; Systems Engineer which is the equivalent of what a CS degree is in the US. Being his big brother and a programmer myself I really want to guide him and give him the right material to learn and become good… >>> More

Developer IT