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Technical Definitions: What is
64 bit? 64 bit Definition.
Free Definitions:
Software: General
64 bit Definition
A term describing a computer architecture based
around an {ALU}, {registers}, and {data bus} which are 64
{bit}s wide.
64-bit processors are quite common in 1996, e.g. {Digital}
{Alpha}, versions of {Sun} {SPARC}, {MIPS}, {IBM} {AS/4000}.
the {PowerPC} and {Intel} are expected to move to 64 bits at
their next generation - {PPC 620} and {Intel P7}.
A 64-bit {address bus} allows the processor to address 18
million {gigabytes} as opposed to the mere 4 gigabytes allowed
with 32 bits. There are in 1996 already {hard disks} which
can hold over 4GB. Floating point calculations can also be
more accurate.
A 64-bit {OS} is needed as well to take advantage of the CPU.
In 1986 there are only a few 64-bit operating systems,
including {OS/400}, {Digital} {Unix}, {Solaris} (partialy). A
32-bit OS can run on a 64-bit CPU.
(1996-12-23)
Definition Provided By Denis Howe
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