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I do want to add that the machine doesnt necessarily need more RAM, just the software.
– Keltari
Commented Sep 3, 2012 at 18:22
13

Another component would be "because they can". In the early days of DOS, programs would do massive tricks to stay under tight memory constraints. Under 64 bit, you don't have to. The same program may load more into cache/maps, trading memory for speed.
– Rich Homolka
Commented Sep 3, 2012 at 18:37
3

Good answer, but it's worth remembering that memory is less of an issue on 64-bit systems. The limitations are complicated, but many 32-bit systems can handle only 3 or 4 GB, which is puny in an era when 1GB DIMMs sell for less than ten bucks. On a 64-bit system, you can double or quadruple that for a reasonable cost.
– Isaac Rabinovitch
Commented Sep 4, 2012 at 5:07
For what I know the x32 abi architecture try to exceed this. Here a thought of Donald Knuth. (Look at the middle of the page)
– mg.
Commented Sep 4, 2012 at 12:48

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