Windows 10/11, 8 on 128-bit: What You Need to Know

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Just like I was saying in arecent article, I have many friends that don’t know too much about computers. And I don’t consider myself an expert, neither, but there are some questions that even I can answer. So, whenever I see people looking for this – “Windows 10,Windows 8on128-bit” or “Windows 8,Windows 10works on128-bit?” I realize that this needs a little bit of explanation. For those that don’t want to read too much (TL-DR adopters) or already know the difference between128-bitand 64-bit, you should know thatWindows 8,Windows 10on128-bitis nothing more but a fairytale.

128-bit computers

For those that are still looking for this, even now, afterWindows 8,Windows 10have been released, you should reallyreadthe following:

While there are currently no mainstream general-purpose processors built to operate on128-bitintegers or addresses, a number of processors do have specialized ways to operate on128-bitchunks of data. TheIBM System/370could be considered the first rudimentary128-bitcomputer, as it used128-bitfloating point registers

This explains it all, doesn’t it? We don’t need and we won’t go into very advanced and geekish argumentations –128-bitis A LOT more processing power than x64 currently. Take into considerationquantum computer progress, for example. Today, barely anyone has64-bit computers. And you’d think that128-bitis just double the power of 64-bit. Well, ponder over this.

A 64-bit register can store 264 (over 18 quintillion) different values. Hence, a processor with 64-bit memory addresses can directly access 264 bytes (=16 exbibytes) of byte-addressable memory.

and now, for the “Holy Grail”, the128-bit

128-bitprocessors could be used for addressing directly up to 2128 (over 3.40 × 1038) bytes, which would greatlyexceed the total data stored on Earth as of 2010, which has been estimated to be around 1.2 zettabytes (over 270 bytes).

Windows 10 0n 128-bit – No, not really

So, who is looking forWindows 8,Windows 10on128-biteither needs a little bit of explanation to be done to him or he’s secretly keeping a supercomputer hidden in a bunker at the North Pole. A more fortunate comparison is perhaps looking at the first mobile phone bricks and the actual 5G standard that we’re striving for.

But who knows, maybeWindows 10will live for 50 years or so, and the next version after it will indeed bring support for128-bitcomputers. However, that is highly unlikely and it’s obvious thatWindows 10won’t be available for supercomputers. We have a modified version of Windows on various systems throughWindows Embedded 8, but I don’t think it will go beyond that.

Taking into account mainstream consumer needs, it is safe to say that the64-bit architectureis the peak of what average consumers need right now. Increasing to128-bitmakes sense when running powerful AI or Mixed Reality software. However, I really think we’re decades away from makingAI softwaremainstream. Indeed, judging by the current progress rate, this will happen sometime in the future, but unfortunately, we won’t live long enough to test128-bitcomputers during our lifetime.

Windows 10/11, 8 on 128-bit: What You Need to Know#

128-bit computers#

Windows 10 0n 128-bit – No, not really#

Windows 10/11, 8 on 128-bit: What You Need to Know

128-bit computers

Windows 10 0n 128-bit – No, not really