< architecture > A term describing a computer architecture based around an ALU , registers , and data bus which are 64 bit s wide.
64-bit processors are quite common in 1996, e.g. Digital Alpha , versions of Sun SPARC , MIPS , IBM AS/4000 . the PowerPC and Intel are expected to move to 64 bits at their next generation - PPC 620 and Intel P7 .
A 64-bit address bus allows the processor to address 18 million gigabytes as opposed to the mere 4 gigabytes allowed with 32 bits. There are in 1996 already hard disks which can hold over 4GB. Floating point calculations can also be more accurate.
A 64-bit OS is needed as well to take advantage of the CPU. In 1986 there are only a few 64-bit operating systems, including OS/400 , Digital Unix , Solaris (partialy). A 32-bit OS can run on a 64-bit CPU.
(1996-12-23)