Key supporting differences


Performance :

  • 64-bit systems can handle more data per clock cycle and process larger datasets simultaneously.
  • So they tend to perform better—especially with modern, multitasking workloads and heavy applications.

Software Compatibility:

  • 32-bit OS can only natively run 32-bit applications only.
  • While 64-bit OS can usually run both 64-bit and 32-bit applications.

Hardware Requirements:

  • A 64-bit OS requires a 64-bit processor, while a 32-bit OS can run on both 32- and 64-bit CPUs (but is limited in performance on a 64-bit CPU).
  • Newer hardware and software primarily runs on 64-bit environments only , and some modern applications are made for 64-bit OS only.