New User, New PC, New Distro.

BurningFury · 2009-09-25 05:04:46

First of all congratulations for the excellent forum here at Arch Linux.
The community is great and very helpful. Thanks a lot.

Second off all, I bought a new rig, since the old one died on me last month.
Here's my new PC: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu … ct=3970023
What do you guys think of it? Sadly it comes with Vista pre-installed, but we can fix that

While I'm not new to Linux (been using Ubuntu for about 4 years now),
I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should install the 32bit or the 64bit version of Arch.
Some recommend the 32bit due to software usage, and others recommend the 64bit due to performance issues.

What would you guys recommend?

Will wait for some suggestions.

Trent · 2009-09-25 05:21:05

There are a million answers to that question, and it all boils down to what you need. I don't use any apps that cause 64bit troubles (not since Adobe showed up with a 64bit flash, anyway -- I know others have had complaints, but I just don't use it that much). Skype leaps to mind as an app that many people have struggled with under x64; I don't know if I can think of any others off the top of my head. I use x64 on my Core 2 Duo Thinkpad; I think it's great, but I probably wouldn't really notice if you snuck in behind my back and changed it (not for a few days, anyway), because I only have 4 gigs of RAM and the machine is usually under quite a light load. I remember there being a significant difference between the i386 and x64 Ubuntu liveCDs in terms of performance, but I can't say I've compared Arch 686/x64, so I won't make wild guesses.

Let me ask you: why would you use 32 bit if your machine supports 64 bit?

sHyLoCk · 2009-09-25 05:31:20

BurningFury wrote:

What do you guys think of it? Sadly it comes with Vista pre-installed, but we can fix that .

reject the EULA!

doorknob60 · 2009-09-25 05:34:24

DEFINATELY go with 64 bit. No reason not to. Tell me one, and I'll tell why it's an invalid reason

Gen2ly · 2009-09-25 05:53:43

Go without whatever really. With 32bit you'll be less likely run into problems if you install a lot of software (especially some games), with 64 if you plan to do things the 64bit is really good at: lame encoding, blender... (probably others). Some people have claimed to see good speed gains using 64bit for the most part in my experience it's about parr.

Last edited by Gen2ly (2009-09-25 05:54:13)

VirtualRider · 2009-09-25 10:00:47

You have 8GB of RAM installed, so the answer is clear: 64Bit

I use it for a while now and i havn't had any software troubles (except the bad feeling when installing 32-bit-libraries where needed)

zen3 · 2009-09-25 11:35:59

64bit for sure.

BurningFury · 2009-09-25 17:15:45

Thanks for your replies ^^

For sure 64Bit seems the way to go, but then again, like some have stated, it's a powerful machine and thus 64Bit would get the best of it.

Now, I've read that WINE is not yet ported for 64Bit, and I do need it. For gaming or for other stuff.

But even with 8GB of RAM and what not, 32Bit would run considerably faster on this machine, so over all it's a go for both versions.

I will install the 32Bit for now, just to get used to Arch, then I can safely move to 64Bit.

By the way, if I'm going to set up my /swap for this machine, would a 2GB swap partition be safe or do I have to double that?

Thanks in advance.

Last edited by BurningFury (2009-09-25 17:16:20)

Jamie · 2009-09-25 17:30:33

64-bit for sure!

VirtualRider · 2009-09-25 17:41:28

I doubt that you will ever have to use your swap with 8GB of ram (if you use 64Bit-arch) - but yes 2GB swap is ok (even for 32Bit)

Why should 32Bit run faster on your machine? There is no big difference between 32 and 64 (except some special areas) in speed.

Oh and the binary version of wine (http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=7915) runs fine on my 64Bit.

A switch in the future would need a reinstall of arch so...why wasting time? Take the 64 Bit version it would be a total waste of money otherwise!

pharcyde · 2009-09-25 18:50:09

I'm sorry but why would you even consider 32-bit with 8gb ram?

jordz · 2009-09-25 19:07:04

BurningFury wrote:

Thanks for your replies ^^
For sure 64Bit seems the way to go, but then again, like some have stated, it's a powerful machine and thus 64Bit would get the best of it.
Now, I've read that WINE is not yet ported for 64Bit, and I do need it. For gaming or for other stuff.
But even with 8GB of RAM and what not, 32Bit would run considerably faster on this machine, so over all it's a go for both versions.
I will install the 32Bit for now, just to get used to Arch, then I can safely move to 64Bit.
By the way, if I'm going to set up my /swap for this machine, would a 2GB swap partition be safe or do I have to double that?
Thanks in advance.

You can install 32bit libraries and still run 32 bit software: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=7915

ngoonee · 2009-09-26 00:18:27

Or you could use a 32-bit chroot, good documentation available in the wiki.

Gen2ly · 2009-09-26 02:58:08

Oop, didn't see the ram part.

BurningFury · 2009-09-26 05:22:41

Oh man! Good stuff indeed.

Well, this is my first 64Bit PC ever, the other one was a Pentium 4 32Bit, 1GB Ram, crappy video card, etc, etc.
So it feels like having a '09 Porsche 911 versus a 1992 Dodge Neon. Get my point.

I'm not too well versed in 64Bit architecture, all I know is that is fast. How fast? Can't say.
But 8GB RAM sounds fast.

Does 64Bit Arch install just the same way as 32Bit?

VirtualRider and ngoonee mentioned 32Bit software running just fine on 64Bit, so perhaps is all good.

Will take that into account and make a wise choice.
Why waste the hardware right?

Arch Linux

#1 2009-09-25 05:04:46

New User, New PC, New Distro.

#2 2009-09-25 05:21:05

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#3 2009-09-25 05:31:20

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#4 2009-09-25 05:34:24

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#5 2009-09-25 05:53:43

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#6 2009-09-25 10:00:47

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#7 2009-09-25 11:35:59

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#8 2009-09-25 17:15:45

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#9 2009-09-25 17:30:33

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#10 2009-09-25 17:41:28

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#11 2009-09-25 18:50:09

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#12 2009-09-25 19:07:04

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#13 2009-09-26 00:18:27

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#14 2009-09-26 02:58:08

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

#15 2009-09-26 05:22:41

Re: New User, New PC, New Distro.

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