What are 16 bit,32bit and 64 bit means in windows system

[jalal]

I am having Intel p-IV 3.0 Ghz processor with 768MB RAM, 80 GB HDD and my motherboard is D865GBF with HT.
What type of windows bit I can Load. Can any one please clear me these concept of all bit system<

[Stuey]

You can use any 32 bit based Windows but XP or Vista are your best options.

I've got to get to bed, but you can read more about 64bit vs. 32bit differences in this article here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit

I believe that the last 16bit OS was Windows 3.1. Windows 95 and up were 32 bit systems, but there are AMD chips that are capable of supporting 64bit operating systems and software.

[kram 2.0]

Almost all Pentium 4 processors, not including the 6xx series as well as the 5x1 series, are exclusively 32-bit chips. 6xx (like the 630, 620, etc.) as well as the 5x1 series are the first Intel mainstream processors to incorporate dual 32-bit and 64-bit compatibility in the processor - Intel calls it EM64T, or Extended Memory 64-bit Technology.

Now, the 'x'-bit specification refers to the amount of memory that can be addressed as a whole. Windows, from 95 to XP and Vista, are capable of addressing a maximum of 2³² bits of memory - the calculation comes out to be around four GB of memory. Because of overhead on a lot of the current software and games out that need larger amounts of memory, 64-bit technology is needed so that larger amounts of memory can be used. 64-bit technology, as you might guess, is 2⁶⁴ bits, which corresponds to a much greater amount of total RAM.

In order to run a system in full 64-bit, you must have both a 64-bit capable processor as well as a 64-bit operating system (WinXP-x64 or WinVista 64-bit). In addition, if you use greater memory than the architectural limits of the system (ie. 8GB RAM on a 32-bit system), the system will most likely reject the extra memory. For your specific case, I cannot affirmatively say whether or not you can run a 64-bit system (as your chip could be a 3.0C, 3.0E, 630, etc.). You can definately run Windows XP Professional or Home as well as normal Windows Vista. Don't worry about whether or not your installation is 64-bit - it is usually very obviously advertised if it is not the standard 32-bit install package.

Hope that helps.
kram

[LeftyAce]

With 768 MB of ram, 32 bit will work just as well as 64 bit for you. The only advantage of 64 bit right now is the ability to use more than 4 GB of ram, as Kram said.

64 bit Vista still has some issues, certain drivers aren't available for it, etc (64 bit XP is apparently absolutely terrible).

For guaranteed compatibility, 32 bit XP is your best bet.

As an interesting side note, any processor supporting the x86 architecture (the 386, 486, 586, etc processors) boots up in 4 or 8 bit mode. As it detects support for the next level it moves up to 16, then to 32, and if it's a 64 bit chip, all the way to 64 if supported.

[jalal]

Originally Posted by kram 2.0 Almost all Pentium 4 processors, not including the 6xx series as well as the 5x1 series, are exclusively 32-bit chips. 6xx (like the 630, 620, etc.) as well as the 5x1 series are the first Intel mainstream processors to incorporate dual 32-bit and 64-bit compatibility in the processor - Intel calls it EM64T, or Extended Memory 64-bit Technology. Now, the 'x'-bit specification refers to the amount of memory that can be addressed as a whole. Windows, from 95 to XP and Vista, are capable of addressing a maximum of 232 bits of memory - the calculation comes out to be around four GB of memory. Because of overhead on a lot of the current software and games out that need larger amounts of memory, 64-bit technology is needed so that larger amounts of memory can be used. 64-bit technology, as you might guess, is 264 bits, which corresponds to a much greater amount of total RAM. In order to run a system in full 64-bit, you must have both a 64-bit capable processor as well as a 64-bit operating system (WinXP-x64 or WinVista 64-bit). In addition, if you use greater memory than the architectural limits of the system (ie. 8GB RAM on a 32-bit system), the system will most likely reject the extra memory. For your specific case, I cannot affirmatively say whether or not you can run a 64-bit system (as your chip could be a 3.0C, 3.0E, 630, etc.). You can definately run Windows XP Professional or Home as well as normal Windows Vista. Don't worry about whether or not your installation is 64-bit - it is usually very obviously advertised if it is not the standard 32-bit install package. Hope that helps. kram

Thank you for your descriptive reply.I was very much confused to see on windows for 64 bit.
Now its look like next generation when our system grown up.