What is a significant difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems?

The significant difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems primarily relates to the amount of memory each can manage and their overall performance capabilities. A 64-bit operating system can address a larger amount of RAM compared to a 32-bit system. Specifically, a 32-bit OS can typically address up to 4 GB of RAM due to its limitations in memory addressing. In contrast, a 64-bit OS can manage much more RAM—potentially up to terabytes—depending on the architecture and configuration of the system.

This increased memory availability allows 64-bit operating systems to support more applications running simultaneously, improve responsiveness, and enhance overall performance, particularly for memory-intensive tasks such as large databases, running sophisticated applications, and handling graphics processing. This difference in memory management contributes significantly to the efficiency and speed of applications designed for 64-bit systems.

While the other options might suggest benefits associated with different types of systems, they do not accurately capture the core advantage of a 64-bit operating system when compared to a 32-bit one, which is fundamentally about memory handling and resulting performance improvements.