32-bit

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 GiB 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. By 1994 to 1997 game consoles such as Playstation 1 was called "the 32 bit era".

Architecture

Prominent 32-bit processors include the Intel 80386,Intel 80486, and Pentium series, and the Motorola 68000 series. The Motorola 68000 is externally 16 bits long; however, it has 32-bit general purpose registers, arithmetic units, and is forwards-compatible with all 32-bit software. Since 2000, 32-bit software applications like Windows XP and Windows Vista have emerged for mass market.

Images

In images, 32-bit refers to 24-bit truecolor images with an 8-bit alpha channel.

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.

See also

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

External links

HOW Stuff Works "How Bits and Bytes work"