AMD64 Debian

[jonantice]

I know this is a terribly subjective question but,
Is it worth it, at this point, to run the 64-bit Debian despite the inconveniences such as openoffice? (that's all i know) Are there other applications that refuse to work? Is it worth the headache? I don't need to hear you say yes or no, I need to hear why yes or no. If not what kernels do you recomend for an AMD64?
Thanx

[techieMoe]

I know this is a terribly subjective question but,
Is it worth it, at this point, to run the 64-bit Debian despite the inconveniences such as openoffice?

No.


(just kidding)

Actually, my answer is still no, it's not worth it. In my personal experience the performance difference between a native 64-bit application (such as Konqueror for instance) is identical to that of a 32-bit application running on the same AMD64 processor. The only "benefit" you get from running 64-bit at this point is bragging rights, and as soon as you try to run something like WINE or install a Flash plug-in on your browser those rights go out the window.

At the current state of 64-bit Linux, the vast majority of programmers are simply recompiling the stable 32-bit code to make it run natively on 64-bit. They're not rewriting anything, and because of that the new registers and new instruction sets that are available in 64-bit CPUs are not being used, thus there is no appreciable performance difference.

(that's all i know) Are there other applications that refuse to work? Is it worth the headache? I don't need to hear you say yes or no, I need to hear why yes or no. If not what kernels do you recomend for an AMD64?
Thanx

As I mentioned, WINE has issues in 64-bit Linux, as well as some install scripts for commercial applications (such as anything made by Loki Games). Last I checked there's still not a Macromedia Flash plug-in for 64-bit browsers. Java seems to have issues as well, which might explain the problems with OpenOffice. Other than that I haven't run into any other glaring issues personally. I run 32-bit OSes on my computer at home.

Here are some other threads that discuss this:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/sus...32-64-bit.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/sus...tallation.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/gen...bit-64bit.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/deb...bit-linux.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...e-so-only.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/sus...suse-10-a.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/per...d-upgrade.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/ins...vrs-64bit.html
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/kno...-linux-os.html

[antidrugue]

As techieMoe explains it, I would say too that it is not worth it.

If you want a performance boost, just compile your own custom kernel and make sure you do all you can to make it speedy :
-use latest vanilla kernel sources
-disable "kernel hacking" (debugging)
-use Con Kolivas patches
-optimize it for your CPU
-use maximum level of preemption
-use 1000 HZ Timer frequency
-etc.

Here is some hints on how to compile your kernel in Debian :
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/331741-post2.html