eli5: What does people mean when they say that a computer system runs on different architecture from another computer? Like when somebody says that an emulator can run N64 games faster theoretically but because of different architecture in practicality it cant?

Question

eli5: What does people mean when they say that a computer system runs on different architecture from another computer? Like when somebody says that an emulator can run N64 games faster theoretically but because of different architecture in practicality it cant?

In: Technology

Answer 1

ELI5 here:

Imagine that one system is built with rails, so, this system can only support trains, you can try to run a car or a bike on it but it won’t be good, the trip I’ll be full of bumps, crashes and you might need to stop before the destination.

We have another system that’s built with asphalt, it is a bit more versatile, can run cars, trucks and bikes, but you can’t run trains on it.

We have also another system, built with water, but this can run only boats, ships and submarines, it just can’t run trains or cars.

It’s pretty much the same with computers (and video games) they are built to calculate stuff in one specific way, whatever you want to run on it, you need it to be compatible.