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Ubuntu on an A64 processor.

DocDoc Registered User, ClubPA regular
edited March 2007 in Help / Advice Forum
I have an AMD A64 series processor. I'm looking at Ubuntu to replace my Windows XP install. Should I get the 64-bit version, or the standard x86 version? I've heard the 64 bit version has no real optimizations, and it's a pain to run many installers and such under it. Is this true?

Doc on

Posts

  • MengerSpongeMengerSponge Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    I'm in the same boat, looking at building a new machine, most likely with an AMD 64 chip, and want to run (probably) Ubuntu.

    From what I've read, there's really no reason to run the 64-bit version now, unless you have over 4GB of RAM, which I think is the maximum that 32-bit supports. There aren't even really any performance gains, AFAIK. Other than that, you're just looking at compatibility issues and headache, at least until the 64-bit architecture becomes more mainstream.

    I'm no expert though, so I'd love to hear others' suggestions too.

    MengerSponge on
  • JWFokkerJWFokker Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Do you have any applications that take advantage of 64-bit processors? If not, then you won't see any performance gain. I'm not at all familiar with Linux, so the OS may benefit somewhat. One thing to consider, is that if Linux is anything like Windows in this regard, drivers and applications may not work as well/at all with the 64-bit version, though I'd find this surprising because Linux has had 64-bit support for much longer than Windows.

    JWFokker on
  • BarrakkethBarrakketh Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Applications would have been compiled and packaged for the x86-64 version of Ubuntu, so I would imagine that there wouldn't be any problems there (at least as far as the main and restricted trees go, which are tested much more thoroughly than universe and multiverse).

    That said, I don't think the w32codecs package is usable under the 64-bit versions of Linux, and if you care about QuickTime/Windows Media files it might be a good idea to use the 32-bit version. And so long as you make /home on a separate partition it would be really easy to install the other version while keeping your user settings intact.

    Barrakketh on
    Rollers are red, chargers are blue....omae wa mou shindeiru
  • PhilodoxPhilodox Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    I've ran both x86 and x64 versions of Ubuntu and my strong recommendation is to stick with x86. You will not see a performance gain with x64 and there is a very noticeable subset of the packages in apt (if you don't know what that is, you will) that haven't been compiled for x64.

    Philodox on
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  • TyrantCowTyrantCow Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    I just set up a AMD64 machine with Kubuntu Dapper for AMD64.

    Everything runs fine... of course you have to dig a little to get Flash, RealPlayer, etc... If you're competent with a Debian based Linux you will be fine. I have not started the 64-bit Wine install yet, I'm saving that for this weekend.

    Oh... and Swiftfox... wow... zoom quick. (it is 32-bit, tho)

    And... Doc, I'm pretty sure I've seen you answer at least intermediate level Linux questions here in H/A... I have complete faith in your abilities.

    TyrantCow on
    MooMan
  • TyrantCowTyrantCow Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    sry

    TyrantCow on
    MooMan
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