There are a lot of ways to count, but when it comes to computers there is only binary: 0 and 1. Each one is a considered a "bit." That means for 1-bit computing, you get two possible values; 2-bit means four values; then at 3 bits you double that to eight (2 to the third power, aka 2 cubed).
Keep going exponentially and you eventually get 32-bit (2 to the 32nd power) worth 4,294,967,296; 64-bit (or 2 to the 64th power) is worth 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 values.
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32-Bit vs. 64-Bit OSes: What's the Difference?
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Userlevel 7
Excellent article, Petr, thanks for posting. Have skimmed it and it definitively warrants a more thorough perusal.Have to say though that there is also the interim case of semi 64bit software where the app itself is 32bit and only the relevant drivers are 64bit...which is a bit of a cheat to be called '64bit' but that is still better than 32bit software running on a 64bit system.
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