32 bit or 64 bit

[loopycrow]

i have a 64 bit pentium 2.8 dual core machine. i have tried to install suse 10.0 on my machine. but when installation starts it gives a message that you are going to install a 32 bit software on a 64 bit machine. previously i have installed the same OS on a 64 bit amd machine and it worked fine ,but for video applications it was showing some problems.
can i install the same OS in my machine and upgrade it to 64 bit through online update or should i go for 64 bit OS, or just the 32 bit OS is enough
please help

[techieMoe]

The warning you're getting doesn't mean anything; it's just for information's sake. You can install 32-bit Linux on a 64-bit machine. In fact, I recommend it over 64-bit Linux, and here is why:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...bit-linux.html

You're welcome to install 64-bit Linux of course. Just be aware of the risks.

[loopycrow]

thankyou for the reply now i shall go on with the 32 bit version

[Marsolin]

I would also go for the 32-bit version, unless you are using 4GB or more of memory.

[fernape]

I would prefer install a 64 bit distribution.

- It's not a matter of memory, but the eficience, your code is compiled to use 64 bit instructions and data fields, not only to jump the barrier of the 4 GB of physical memory.

- If you have a problem of compatibility, you can always install the 32 bit version of any program (e.g. OpenOffice has no version for 64 bits, but WBEL install the 32 bit version cleanly with yum.

- The problems with compatibility are disappearing. Now we have even 64 bit version of flash players and more.

Best Regards

[techieMoe]

- It's not a matter of memory, but the eficience, your code is compiled to use 64 bit instructions and data fields, not only to jump the barrier of the 4 GB of physical memory.

I am not aware of any software out there today that actually makes use of the 64-bit instructions, but if you have an example I'd be interested to hear about it.

[mahlerfan]

I would also go for the 32-bit version, unless you are using 4GB or more of memory.

It's not about jumping the barrier, you can do that by simply recompiling the kernel to add support for up to 64 GB of ram. What it's about is you need alot of ram before you start seeing a significant benefit of 64 bit vs 32 bit. I thought it was something about 64 bit addresses make it possible to create and use more modes in the same amount of ram as compared to 32 bit. But the results are insignificant unless you have alot of ram.

There is a 64 bit java with no plugin! lol from sun but I was not aware of adobe putting out a 64 bit flash player and plugin. Is it beta-- or are you talking about the open source that just freezes up your browser?

I agree with you that the problems are dissapearing, but that's not to say that they have dissapeared. Most desktop and workstations don't need to run a 64 bit os anyway. It's mostly for novelty right now. It's awesome how fast they have come along though, linux x86-64 has just completely trumped windows x64 imo.

Memory is cheap, both ram and rom. It will only be a few years before it becomes common for the majority of users to have several gigs of ram, and then it will be time to look seriously at linux x86-64, and because of all the work now it will be ready I'm confident of that.

[fernape]

I am not aware of any software out there today that actually makes use of the 64-bit instructions, but if you have an example I'd be interested to hear about it.

Sorry, probably I expressed bad my opinion. I mean that for example, 64 bits, allow databases to access bigger files (really bigger) and it's a real problem (banks, insurances, governments...) or with digital video or scientific computation.

Maybe it's not a big difference for a desktop machine, but if someone has a 64 bit processor, it's a waste of money to install a 32 bit distribution (IMHO)

Best Regards

[mahlerfan]

Digital video and scientific computations are what I use my computer for, and it still is hard to see the benefit there. Unless you meant like editing blue-ray isos the conventional tools work quite well enough! lol As for scientific research-- when you need alot of resources like that, you usually don't try to tweak out a mass market pc with a 64 bit os but instead access a cluster to do your work.

32 bit OSs a waste of money? Sigh... fanboy...

[fernape]

32 bit OSs a waste of money? Sigh... fanboy...

A waste of money to buy a 64 bit processor to not use it, isn't it?

Best Regards