title: What is the difference between a 32-bit and 64-bit processor?
body: <p>I have been trying to read up on 32-bit and 64-bit processors (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32-bit_processing" rel="noreferrer">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32-bit_processing</a>). My understanding is that a 32-bit processor (like x86) has registers 32-bits wide. I'm not sure what that means. So it has special "memory spaces" that can store integer values up to 2^32?</p>
  
  <p>I don't want to sound stupid, but I have no idea about processors. I'm assuming 64-bits is, in general, better than 32-bits. Although my computer now (one year old, Win 7, Intel Atom) has a 32-bit processor. </p>