32-bit processors and operating systems, in theory, can access up to 4GB of memory. So how come Qasim Zaib’s PC, with 4GB installed, only sees 3GB? Every byte of RAM requires its own address, and the ...

Segements are a nasty evil, and their usage varys depending on what mode you are in.<br><br>In Real (8086) mode, the processor uses segments as part of its memory addressing routines. A segment is a ...

Ask Ars was one of the first features of the newly born Ars Technica back in 1998. And now, as then, it's all about your questions and our community's answers. Each week, we'll dig into our bag of ...

Ken wrote in saying he loves PCWorld, natch, and that he wants to know the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. I have to admit this isn’t something I’ve thought about in a long ...

Operating systems (OS) are the intermediary between computer hardware and software, an essential piece of any digital device. Much like an orchestra conductor, they ensure harmonious communication ...

Everything in the digital world is measured in bits and bytes. Following are the common components in a computer that are measured in bits. See bit and binary values. The "word" size is the number of ...

Remember the early 90's when we were transitioning from 16-bit to 32-bit operating systems? Some people were unimpressed, but I think most of us could see that 32-bit systems were going to solve an ...

Editors' Note: This article has been updated since its original posting. Software and hardware engineers who have to deal with byte and bit order issues know the process is like walking a maze. Though ...

Till recently, we used the IPv4 version, which provided us with a 32-bit address. But these available addresses will be exhausted soon. The newer version of IP, is the IPv6, on the other hand, offers ...

Is a 64-bit computer in your future? With all of the hype surrounding 64-bit processors, you probably assume that my answer would be an unequivocal “yes-and pretty darn soon, too!” But put aside the ...