What does 64-bit computing actually mean? Find out inside PCMag's comprehensive tech and computer-related encyclopedia.

A 64-bit CPU has two main advantages over a 32-bit processor. First, it processes data in packets that are twice the size of what a 32-bit CPU can handle.

About AMD64 AMD64 defines a new class of computing by extending the industry-standard x86 instruction set architecture across 32- and 64-bit platforms.

This is a tad oversimplified, but what those bits refer to is how much data the processor can address or move at the same time. With a 64-bit processor, the chip can handle 64-bits of data at once.