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What is the exact meaning of "32-bit OS", "32-bit processor"?

  • Does it influence the size of address bus?
  • Does it influence the number of virtual addresses that can be generated?
  • How will it affect the register size means does the register size?
  • What impact does it have on virtual memory/ memory management

I am a beginner in this area; please point me to some suitable docs if you have any.

Thanks.

Martin B
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Kaizen
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    multiple duplicates: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1283797/processor-os-32bit-64-bit http://stackoverflow.com/questions/132930/32-vs-64-bits-whats-the-big-deal http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1282206/what-is-the-actual-difference-between-64-bit-and-32-bit – dmckee --- ex-moderator kitten Dec 25 '09 at 02:55

2 Answers2

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Why not start with the Wikipedia article?

Tarydon
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86#32-bit

or, if you really meant 64 bit,

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

Charles
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