What is a characteristic of a 64-bit operating system?

A 64-bit operating system is designed to handle a significantly larger amount of memory compared to 32-bit systems. The correct choice highlights the theoretical capability of a 64-bit OS to reference up to 16 exabytes of memory, which is a result of its 64-bit addressing space. This enormous addressable space allows for the use of more RAM, improving performance and capabilities for applications that require handling large datasets or running multiple processes simultaneously.

The architectural design of 64-bit systems enables more data to be processed at once, making them ideal for modern computing tasks that demand greater memory and improved performance. As applications and operating environments become more complex, the ability to access such gigantic amounts of memory becomes increasingly important.

Regarding other options, the claim that a 64-bit system cannot utilize more than 4 GB of RAM is incorrect; that limitation is specific to 32-bit systems. While 64-bit operating systems can run 32-bit applications, they do not solely rely on them. Lastly, a 64-bit operating system is not inherently slower than a 32-bit operating system; performance actually tends to be better due to improved processing capabilities and memory management.