Everything in the digital world is measured in bits and bytes. Bits are a measurement of different components and functions depending on what is being referenced. Following are the most common. See binary values.
CPU
The size of the computer's internal registers. This is the computer's "word" size, which is the amount of data the CPU can compute at the same time. Theoretically, if the clock rates were the same (800 MHz, 1 GHz, 2 GHz, etc.) and the basic architectures were equal, a 32-bit computer would work twice as fast internally as a 16-bit computer. In practice, 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit and 64-bit architectures are rarely identical to each other even from the same manufacturer. Thus, a 64-bit computer may be (internally) less than twice as fast or more than twice as fast as a 32-bit computer.
In order to take advantage of a CPU with larger words, operating systems and applications must be recompiled with a compiler that supports the larger word size. If not, the older software may actually run slower in the bigger CPU, but this is totally dependent on the mix of instructions used in the program.
Most important, this measurement does not result in twice as much actual work being done for the user, as the computer's cache size and bus and disk speeds are all part of the performance equation.
System Bus
The size of the computer's system bus (frontside bus), which is the pathway over which data are transferred between memory and the CPU and between memory and the peripheral devices. If the bus clock rates are equal, a 32-bit bus transfers data twice as fast as a 16-bit bus.
Address Bus
The size of the address bus, which determines how much memory the CPU can address directly. Each bit doubles the number, for example, 20 bits addresses 1 megabyte (MB); 24 bits addresses 16 megabytes (MB); 32 bits addresses 4 gigabytes (GB). See binary values.
Color Depth
The number of colors that can be displayed at one time. This is called "bit depth," "color depth" and "pixel depth." Unless some of the memory is used for cursor or sprite movement, an 8-bit display adapter generates 256 colors; 16-bit, 64K colors; 24-bit, 16.8 million colors. See alpha channel and bit depth.
Bit specifications, such as 64-bit and 128-bit, refer to the display adapter's architecture, which affects speed, not the number of colors. See 64-bit graphics accelerator and 128-bit graphics accelerator.
Sound Sample
The quality of sound based on the number of bits in the samples taken. A 16-bit sample yields a number with 65,536 increments compared to 256 in an 8-bit sample. See 8-bit sample and 16-bit sample.
CPU
The size of the computer's internal registers. This is the computer's "word" size, which is the amount of data the CPU can compute at the same time. Theoretically, if the clock rates were the same (800 MHz, 1 GHz, 2 GHz, etc.) and the basic architectures were equal, a 32-bit computer would work twice as fast internally as a 16-bit computer. In practice, 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit and 64-bit architectures are rarely identical to each other even from the same manufacturer. Thus, a 64-bit computer may be (internally) less than twice as fast or more than twice as fast as a 32-bit computer.
In order to take advantage of a CPU with larger words, operating systems and applications must be recompiled with a compiler that supports the larger word size. If not, the older software may actually run slower in the bigger CPU, but this is totally dependent on the mix of instructions used in the program.
Most important, this measurement does not result in twice as much actual work being done for the user, as the computer's cache size and bus and disk speeds are all part of the performance equation.
System Bus
The size of the computer's system bus (frontside bus), which is the pathway over which data are transferred between memory and the CPU and between memory and the peripheral devices. If the bus clock rates are equal, a 32-bit bus transfers data twice as fast as a 16-bit bus.
Address Bus
The size of the address bus, which determines how much memory the CPU can address directly. Each bit doubles the number, for example, 20 bits addresses 1 megabyte (MB); 24 bits addresses 16 megabytes (MB); 32 bits addresses 4 gigabytes (GB). See binary values.
Color Depth
The number of colors that can be displayed at one time. This is called "bit depth," "color depth" and "pixel depth." Unless some of the memory is used for cursor or sprite movement, an 8-bit display adapter generates 256 colors; 16-bit, 64K colors; 24-bit, 16.8 million colors. See alpha channel and bit depth.
Bit specifications, such as 64-bit and 128-bit, refer to the display adapter's architecture, which affects speed, not the number of colors. See 64-bit graphics accelerator and 128-bit graphics accelerator.
Sound Sample
The quality of sound based on the number of bits in the samples taken. A 16-bit sample yields a number with 65,536 increments compared to 256 in an 8-bit sample. See 8-bit sample and 16-bit sample.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Mainstream media writes Windows obit
- Wow, a tough day for Windows. BusinessWeek reports that HP, the world's biggest PC company, is so troubled by Vista's 'tepid reception' and Apple's resurgence that it is developing its own operating system. Meanwhile a New York Times columnist writes on his blog that Windows is "already...
- Blog posts 2008-09-05
- Enterprise password management really isn't a good idea
- Being at a university and working for a government department allows me to understand this concept well. There are shared resources here, there and everywhere, provided by different people and providers, all open to a "certain type" of person - employees or students. By having a single sign-on SSO point...
- Blog posts 2008-09-05
- Demo Facebook app creates DoS botnet
- Do you know what that innocent-looking Facebook app is really doing? Researchers at the Institute of Computer Science ICS have created a proof-of-concept Facebook application capable of covertly herding users of the popular social network into a powerful -- and malicious -- botnet. The...
- Blog posts 2008-09-05
- NetSuite moves early to support Chrome
- NetSuite said Friday that it will offer native support for Google's Chrome browser, which is in beta and may not be enterprise strength yet. In a statement, NetSuite said its CRM, e-commerce, accounting and OpenAir unit will support Chrome in phases with support being complete in mid-October....
- Blog posts 2008-09-05
- XO sold through Amazon this year...Who cares?
- The One Laptop Per Child OLPC program will begin selling its XO laptop via Amazon this year in a reprise of its Give One Get One (G1G1) program, according to Ars Technica and several other outlets. Although the Ars piece paints this a real boon for OLPC, whose G1G1...
- Blog posts 2008-09-05
- Google Chrome already beating Opera
- Maybe Google really does have something here -- in just two days, they have leapfrogged Opera in market share, and have their eyes set on bigger fish. I would have thought that Google's foray into the browser market would have taken a bit more time to develop, but it...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- First Microsoft make-over ad airs: $300 million well spent?
- First Microsoft make-over ad airs: $300 million well spent?Hmmm ....Could be worse ....Homer: [narrating a TV commercial] Are you tired of having your hands cut off by snowblowers? And the inevitable heart attacks that come with shoveling snow?Maybe......they should hire the company that does the Mac commercials....
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Red Hat draws its line in the virtual sand with Qumranet
- The caves of Qumran, located in in the highly disputed region of the West Bank that sits between Israel and Jordan and is populated by both Palestinians and Jews, is where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The scrolls are said by many Judaic scholars...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Critical WMP, MS Office bugs on Patch Tuesday swat list
- Critical WMP, MS Office bugs on Patch Tuesday swat listWhat use is this?What use is this post?This is just replicating the Microsoft advisory.You need to work a bit harder than this to be counted as "content".A list of the applications patched is about as useful as mammary glands on a...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Best way to sell drugs is to talk to your doctor
- Best way to sell drugs is to talk to your doctorit all depends...Having many physician friends, I know of only a few who are eager beavers when it came to prescribing new medicines. I don't even think they listen to the drug reps half the time due to time...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- What can we do better?
- What can we do better?Asking the experts!I don't have a clue how it works in you area. I volunteer at the local high school. Being a retired programmer, I thought, great, I am going to make a difference. Went to the principle. Question: who is the...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Dell Inspiron Mini 9 out now
- Dell Inspiron Mini 9 out nowXP model lowest priceLowest price I could manage was $429 after de-selecting the bluetooth option. How did you get $399? Looks like they're automatically subtracting the $45 as instant savings. I wondered how they were offering the webcam, 512 mb ram, 4 gb bigger SSD...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Critical WMP, MS Office bugs on Patch Tuesday swat list
- Microsoft today announced plans to ship four security bulletins next Tuesday (September 9, 2008) to cover worm holes affecting Windows users. All four bulletins in September's Patch Tuesday will be rated "critical," Microsoft's highest severity rating. A "critical" rating is used to rate a vulnerability that can...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Family entertainment act
- Family entertainment actGnR"...from aperformance of such work in a motion picture exhibition facility,shall–..."My understanding was that the works in question were not aquired from a "peroformance"Am I wrong?I Didn't say that he wasn't guiltyHey Rich,While I'm glad one of my comments is sufficient to become a blog entry itself, apparently...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Red Hat acquires Qumranet
- I just received a press release telling me that one of my clients, Qumranet, has been acquired by Red Hat.This was not entirely unexpected. Here's what the release said Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Dell repair adventure, day 5
- Dell repair adventure, day 5No Backup!I find it hard to believe that a IT consultant, one that finds it necessary to attend conferences does not have a backup options in place. A) Is the writer a independent contractor? I guess that I need more information about the writers...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Logitech tries to take network music player mainstream with Squeezebox Boom
- Logitech tries to take network music player mainstream with Squeezebox BoomIt's a great idea and reference designBeing a big fan of Rhapsody, which I feel will eventually win out with the ipod fans, this just makes sense and will for most people provide of ease of use AND 'practicality'.Accessing sirius..Actually...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Dell's Mini packs Ubuntu, XP
- Dell's Mini packs Ubuntu, XPAt this point you may as well wait for integrated 3GPrices are coming down so fast, plus these things are perfect for carrying around everywhere no matter where you go. Plus the 3G providers will probably subsidize them anyway.That's exactly the netbook I want!I only hope...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- RER MP3 Converter (exe)
- RER MP3 Converter converts almost any video or audio format to MP3 and converts MP3 to all popular audio formats, such as WMA, WAV, OGG, M4A, AAC, AC3, MP2, 3GP, and MP4 without any loss of quality. You can choose video size, bit rate, frame rate, audio codec, and sample...
- Software downloads 2008-09-04
- RER WMA Converter (exe)
- RER WMA Converter converts almost any video or audio format to WMA and converts WMA to all popular audio formats, such as MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A, AAC, AC3, MP2, 3GP, and MP4 without any loss of quality. You can choose video size, bit rate, frame rate, audio codec, and sample...
- Software downloads 2008-09-04
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Access the latest Intel and industry best practices
-
Designed specifically to address the concerns of senior IT managers at organizations with more than 100 employees, the Intel Premier IT Professional Program provides best practices via local and e-Seminars and a members-only Web site.
- View the Intel Premier IT Professional web-site tour >>
