32-bit & 64-bit Operating System Explained

You can think of your computer as a series of pipes that can either be 32 or 64 bits wide. The smaller 32-bit size will have more potential for bottlenecks to occur resulting in your system slowing down because one process has to wait for another to finish before it can begin.  On the other hand if you have the bigger 64-bit wide pipe there will be fewer bottlenecking.

In short the terms 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) refer to the way a computer's processor or CPU, handles information.  The 64-bit version handles large amounts of RAM more effectively than a 32-bit system.

So which is better?  Consider the following:

1. A 64-bit system is better in the long run because of the amount of information it can handle without slowing down, but you also need to be running 64-bit programs and have a 64-bit processor or else all the trouble of setting up the 64-bit operating system would be in vain.

2. On a 32-bit operating system, you are restricted to a maximum of 4 GB of RAM while on a 64-bit operating system there really is no near-future limit (17.2 BILLION GB of RAM).

If you are running 3D modeling or AutoCAD software, you can benefit tremendously from 64-bit OS but it is important to note that you need to be running ALL x64 programs, hardware drivers and anything else you are setting up on your system to realize its full potential.

3. A 64-bit OS will require more hard drive space for installation.  The 64-bit version of your favorite programs may also be significantly bigger than their 32-bit counterpart.

NB: On a x64 machine, you will have two Program File directories — one for 32-bit and one for 64-bit programs

How to tell which version you are running:

Click HERE

FUN FACTS:

Windows 64-bit Home editions are limited to 16 GB of RAM for licensing purposes while the Professional and Ultimate versions can use up to 192 GB of RAM.

Protecting your computer from digital nasties

It is almost impossible these days to use your computer, access the internet and share files without coming under the threat of digital nasties, be it virus, trojan horse or worm.
The great thing though is the fact that there are several very good protection software packages out there; the not so great news - there are several very good digital nasties out there as well.

So the question now is how do you go about choosing the antivirus program that is best for you?  Who should you give your money to and entrust with handling the security of your prized computer?

Which is the best you ask?  The simple answer: There is NO ONE BEST!

There is no one fix for all the digital nasties, malware and spyware out there.  They all work to a certain extent, so it's more about finding one that you can live with knowing fully well that no ONE would give you 100% protection.

So now you might be asking which package do I use?  First let me put this on record: you should NEVER have more than ONE antivirus program installed on your system at any given time. Now that this is out of the way we can continue:

I have used several of the more popular packages in recent times: AVG, ESET, Bitdefenter, Kaskersky, AVAST, Norton and so forth, but I always find myself coming back to ESET - it simply works for me, understanding that it is not perfect, but it works.

Do I recommend ESET?  Yes, I do, but then again I would also recommend AVG or Kaspersky.  What about Norton or McAfee you ask?  Well, what about them?

My personal systems are protected by either AVG or ESET so there you have it.

You can always share your thought and experiences in the comment section.