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x86 is the superset, so x86-32 (i386) and x86-64 (amd64) are the two flavours of x86. x32 should not be used as a synonym for 32bit x86, because that term refers to something specific and very different (see the other answers/comments).
Why is 32-bit called x86 and not x32? 32-bit is NOT called x86. There are tens of 32-bit architectures such as MIPS, ARM, PowerPC, SPARC which are not called x86. x86 is a term meaning any instruction set which derived from the instruction set of Intel 8086 processor.
Summary: A Legacy in Naming. The field of computer architecture has frequently prioritized historical compatibility and continuity over purely sensible naming standards. Despite seeming...
In technical terms, x86 and x64 refer to a processor family and the instruction set that they all utilize. It doesn’t say anything about data sizes in particular. The term x86 refers to any instruction set derived from the Intel 8086 processor’s instruction set.
32-bit hardware and software are often referred to as x86 or x86-32. 64-bit hardware and software are often referred to as x64 or x86-64 . 32-bit systems utilize data in 32-bit pieces, while 64-bit systems utilize data in 64-bit pieces.
Here’s the real difference between 32-bit and 64-bit. Here’s why it matters. Simply put, a 64-bit processor is more capable than a 32-bit processor because it can handle more data at once.
Although most x86 processors used in new personal computers and servers have 64-bit capabilities, to avoid compatibility problems with older computers or systems, the term x86-64 (or x64) is often used to denote 64-bit software, with the term x86 implying only 32-bit.
What's the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit? 32-bit hardware and software systems, at times referred as x86 or x86-32, work with data in 32-bit pieces. In contrast, 64-bit hardware and software systems, or x64 or x86-64, use data in 64-bit pieces.
x86 started out as a 16-bit instruction set for 16-bit processors (the 8086 and 8088 processors), then was extended to a 32-bit instruction set for 32-bit processors (80386 and 80486), and now has been extended to a 64-bit instruction set for 64-bit processors.
A 32-bit operating system, also known as an x86 or x86-32, is an operating system with a processor capable of handling or transferring 32-bits of data, i.e., during CPU operations. These operating systems became popular in the 1990s with the emergence of Intel Pentium and AMD processors.