Arch Linux

Toast

Member

From: Toaster

Registered: 2008-02-03

Posts: 12

x86_64

(Sorry if this belongs in Arch64. but it looked to me like more oriented for help)

I love Arch And have it installed on every computer I own. I've been using the same "Don't Panic" ISO since it came out to replace an older one.
The DP ISO has been really buggy due to all of the changes since the repo changes. I still use it but decided to get off my but and download a new one.

I'm reinstalling Arch on my laptop after reformatting/partitioning it's hard drive and then I started to wonder about x86_64. My laptop's processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo and I was wondering if there is an actual advantage to using 64 bit.

I'm a typical user and don't due much power using except for compiling some stuff. So is there any real benefit to using 64 bit? I remember from Windows XP 64 bit having weird issues with flash and other little things, are there similar issues in Linux?

So 64bit or i686?

Also, sorry if I should like a total n00b on the subject and if this has been asked a million times.

Edit: What's the boot time and mem usage of the kernel like for 64? (I like to compile my own).

Last edited by Toast (2008-05-08 04:07:49)

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theringmaster

Member

From: Air Force

Registered: 2007-07-16

Posts: 581

Website

Re: x86_64

64bit has gotten really good lately. I would just do it if i were you.

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Allan

Developer

From: Brisbane, AU

Registered: 2007-06-09

Posts: 9,939

Website

Re: x86_64

Also, sorry if I should like a total n00b on the subject and if this has been asked a million times.

Well, it has...  there is a search button on the top right.

Anyway, Macromedia flash is not released for Linux x86_64 so you would have to use one of the open source alternatives (e.g. gnash) although they still are not a complete replacement.  Similarly no opera (in there soon...) and acroread but in these cases the replacements are actually very good.

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sweiss

Member

Registered: 2004-02-16

Posts: 635

Re: x86_64

Wasn't there a way to run 32-bit apps on 64-bit systems?
I'm facing exactly the same dilema with my laptop now.

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bangkok_manouel

Member

From: indicates a starting point

Registered: 2005-02-07

Posts: 1,554

Re: x86_64

Wasn't there a way to run 32-bit apps on 64-bit systems?
I'm facing exactly the same dilema with my laptop now.

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arc … bit_system
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Usi … _on_Arch64

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sweiss

Member

Registered: 2004-02-16

Posts: 635

Re: x86_64

Wasn't there a way to run 32-bit apps on 64-bit systems?
I'm facing exactly the same dilema with my laptop now.

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arc … bit_system
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Usi … _on_Arch64

Oh, thank you very much

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alcafar

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2008-03-23

Posts: 47

Re: x86_64

I have an Intel Core 2 Duo and I installed Arch 64 bit two months ago. It was my first installation of Arch and my first 64 bit distribution, so I can't really say if it's faster than the 32 bit version.
If you have time you can try to install both and make some speed tests on the same computer, but be careful, even the part of the hard disk on which you have the linux partition influences the speed: for example, I experienced that the middle sectors of the hard disk are faster than the last sectors. So for a really good comparison you should install the two versions on the same sectors at different times.
I use my laptop for scientific work, so I make advantage of the increased precision of 64 bit computations.
And in any case, having a 64 bit processor, I wanted to install a 64 bit o.s., to not under-use my processor.
A good reason to use a 64 bit distro in my opinion is that companies that produce closed source software running only in 32 bit (skype, opera, flash, acroread) may be interested in releasing 64 bit binaries only if there is a consistent amount of people using 64 bit o.s.
If we linux people don't push for it, we have to wait for Microsoft to realize that nowadays processors are 64 bit, and it can take years!
All open source software works perfectly well on 64 bit.
To run 32 bit apps you can set up a chroot
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arc … bit_system
It's not that complicate. I use chroot to run skype, firefox with flash, mplayer with win32 codecs, and sopcast.
If you use the chroot approach, you can also find useful this post, that I will integrate in the wiki when I have time
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php? … 41#p346841
So, my suggestion is, give a try to 64 bit!

Edit: I suggest you to install from the 2008.04-RC iso http://www.archlinux.org/news/389/ insted of 2007.08-2. This last didn't work for me.

Last edited by alcafar (2008-05-08 09:37:28)

Toast

Member

From: Toaster

Registered: 2008-02-03

Posts: 12

Re: x86_64

Thanks all!

Arch64 is up and running smoothly on my laptop!

I use my laptop for scientific work, so I make advantage of the increased precision of 64 bit computations.

What kind of Scientific work do you do? I'm entering the field of Astrophysics.

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alcafar

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2008-03-23

Posts: 47

Re: x86_64

What kind of Scientific work do you do? I'm entering the field of Astrophysics.

Oh well, we are colleagues
I'm a theoretical particle physicist, currently post-doc at the Demokritos Institute of Athens.
I write scientific programs, so the computer is my main work instrument!