32-bit

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Processors
4-bit	8-bit	12-bit	16-bit	18-bit	24-bit	31-bit	32-bit	36-bit	48-bit	64-bit	128-bit
Applications
			16-bit				32-bit			64-bit
Data Sizes
nibble   octet   byte   word   dword   qword

In computer architecture, 32-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 32 bits (4 octets) wide. Also, 32-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. 32-bit is also a term given to a generation of computers in which 32-bit processors were the norm.

The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295 or −2,147,483,648 through 2,147,483,647 using two's complement encoding. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable memory.

The external address and data buses are often wider than 32 bits but both of these are stored and manipulated internally in the processor as 32-bit quantities. For example, the Pentium Pro processor is a 32-bit machine, but the external address bus is 36 bits wide, and the external data bus is 64 bits wide.^[1]

Contents 1 Architecture 2 Images 3 32-bit file format 4 Notes 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Architecture

Prominent 32-bit processors include the IBM System/360, the DEC VAX, the ARM, and the Intel 80386 series. The Motorola 68000 is sometimes described as a 32-bit microprocessor because its registers were 32 bits wide, but it only has a 16-bit ALU.

[edit] Images

In digital images/pictures, 32-bit can refer to 24-bit truecolor images with an 8-bit alpha channel.

[edit] 32-bit file format

A 32-bit file format is a binary file format for which each elementary information is defined on 32 bits (or 4 Bytes). An example of such a format is the Enhanced Metafile Format.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Gwennap, Linley (16 February 1995). "Intel’s P6 Uses Decoupled Superscalar Design". Microprocessor Report.

[edit] See also

• 16-bit
• 16-bit application
• 32-bit application
• 64-bit
• History of video games (32-bit era)
• word (computing)

[edit] External links

• HOW Stuff Works "How Bits and Bytes work"
• Ken Colburn on LockerGnome.com: 32-Bit Vs. 64-Bit Windows

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