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IT Support & Hardware · Foundational

32-bit vs 64-bit

The register and addressing width of a CPU or OS, which determines addressable memory and software compatibility.

Definition

A 32-bit (x86) system can address about 4 GB of memory, while 64-bit (x64) systems support terabytes. A 64-bit OS can run most 32-bit applications, but a 32-bit OS cannot run 64-bit applications or 64-bit drivers. 64-bit Windows stores 32-bit programs in 'Program Files (x86)'.

Example

Installing a 64-bit app on 32-bit Windows 10 fails with an incompatibility error.

Exam tip

Look for 'Program Files (x86)' as a clue that a system is 64-bit Windows.

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