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#1 2009-11-20 19:42:27

cdysthe
Member
Registered: 2009-11-20
Posts: 62

32 or 64 bit Arch?

Hi,

I am new to Arch and have downloaded i686 32 bit, but now wonder if I should get 64 bit. I have a relatively new laptop with Core Duo and Nvidia graphics. I am going to use Arch as my work OS so I need certain programs to work: Opera 10, Skype 2.1 beta, Crossover and Truecrypt. If I opt for 64 bit will I have problems running any of those programs? I have cheked that they all are available, some in AUR, so that's not a problem. Btw, how do I know if programs available in AUR is 32 or 64 bit?

Also, how big is the difference between the 32 and 64 bit versions of Arch? Is it worth the potential problems with apps to do 64 bit?

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#2 2009-11-20 20:03:33

grey
Member
From: Europe
Registered: 2007-08-23
Posts: 679

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

I'd go for 32 bit, because in my opinion it's not worth the potential problems with skype and crossover. On a new machine even KDE with desktop effects and open office is fast enough. The only place where you still need speed is games, and there I'm not sure you gain anything because you are using wine / crossover.

PKGBUILD's have an ARCH line for 32/64 bit.


Good ideas do not need lots of lies told about them in order to gain public acceptance.

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#3 2009-11-20 20:49:22

jskier
Member
From: Minnesota, USA
Registered: 2003-07-30
Posts: 383
Website

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

Also in AUR anything with "bin32" in front of the package name is a 32 bit app running in the 64 bit environment (ie. Skype for example in x64 would still have to run in a 32bit environment because Skype only releases binaries- no source but it's coming). There are 32 bit apps and drivers that run fine crossing over- one drawback is it gets a little more messy with dual packages.

In my opinion the x64 support in Linux (and Windows) has vastly improved this past year to a very functional state in regards to availability and stability drivers and applications. Unless memory is low on your machine or you need an app that won't run (I have yet to find one) I'd say go for 64bit.


--
JSkier

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#4 2009-11-20 21:50:31

uwinkelvos
Member
Registered: 2009-06-07
Posts: 129

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

in some cases your system might be a little slower using 32 Bit, but this should only affect tasks that require high computing power. Truecrypt e.g. might be more performant on a 64 Bit system. I have Skype and Wine running on my 64 Bit setup, but this has been a little struggle if you need something like pulseaudio. As you already have installed 32 Bit and need a stable setup for work, i would stick with that.

Last edited by uwinkelvos (2009-11-20 21:51:14)

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#5 2009-11-20 21:56:32

ozar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2005-02-18
Posts: 1,686

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

cdysthe wrote:

Is it worth the potential problems with apps to do 64 bit?

It's worth it to me.  I've been running 64-bit for the last 15 months and doubt that I'd ever revert back to 32-bit.


oz

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#6 2009-11-20 22:44:07

iBertus
Member
From: Greenville, NC
Registered: 2004-11-04
Posts: 2,228

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

Dear God, not this again.

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#7 2009-11-20 22:50:37

MP2E
Member
Registered: 2009-09-05
Posts: 115

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

I used to worry about this myself, there were all these vicious reports of 64-bit breaking absolutely everything tongue But those days are long gone... Everything works absolutely perfectly in 64-bit now. Just use regular packages, and for stuff like wine that doesn't run natively in x64 just use the package manager to get the bin32 version. Everything works perfectly on my 64-bit system and I don't think I will ever revert.


17:23 < ConSiGno> yeah baby I release the source code with your mom every night
17:24 < ConSiGno> you could call them nightly builds if you know what I mean

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#8 2009-11-20 22:57:34

Inxsible
Forum Fellow
From: Chicago
Registered: 2008-06-09
Posts: 9,183

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

iBertus wrote:

Dear God, not this again.

you said it !!!


Forum Rules

There's no such thing as a stupid question, but there sure are a lot of inquisitive idiots !

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#9 2009-11-20 23:27:56

Mardoct
Member
Registered: 2009-08-17
Posts: 208

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

32 bit: Better supported, RAM cap of ~4GB
64 bit: Still works fine for most anything. The 64 bit CPUs out there can still run 32 bit code.

If you want less potential hassle and have < 4GB of RAM, go 32 bit.

Google it. Google sees all.


The human being created civilization not because of willingness but of a need to be assimilated into higher orders of structure and meaning.

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#10 2009-11-21 23:23:47

Wintervenom
Member
Registered: 2008-08-20
Posts: 1,011

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

It bears repeating:

Wintervenom wrote:
ftornell wrote:

So what's the pros when using x64?
I can address more RAM? What else?

This... subject... has... been... beaten... like... a... dead... horse.

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#11 2009-11-21 23:30:46

spiky25
Member
Registered: 2009-09-29
Posts: 134

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

cdysthe wrote:

Hi,

I am new to Arch and have downloaded i686 32 bit, but now wonder if I should get 64 bit. I have a relatively new laptop with Core Duo and Nvidia graphics. I am going to use Arch as my work OS so I need certain programs to work: Opera 10, Skype 2.1 beta, Crossover and Truecrypt. If I opt for 64 bit will I have problems running any of those programs? I have cheked that they all are available, some in AUR, so that's not a problem. Btw, how do I know if programs available in AUR is 32 or 64 bit?

Also, how big is the difference between the 32 and 64 bit versions of Arch? Is it worth the potential problems with apps to do 64 bit?

64 bits without issues here so it's decent to use it over 32 bits ...

Why use 32 bits anymore then ???


English isn't my native langage

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#12 2009-11-22 00:20:51

cdysthe
Member
Registered: 2009-11-20
Posts: 62

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

spiky25 wrote:
cdysthe wrote:

Hi,

I am new to Arch and have downloaded i686 32 bit, but now wonder if I should get 64 bit. I have a relatively new laptop with Core Duo and Nvidia graphics. I am going to use Arch as my work OS so I need certain programs to work: Opera 10, Skype 2.1 beta, Crossover and Truecrypt. If I opt for 64 bit will I have problems running any of those programs? I have cheked that they all are available, some in AUR, so that's not a problem. Btw, how do I know if programs available in AUR is 32 or 64 bit?

Also, how big is the difference between the 32 and 64 bit versions of Arch? Is it worth the potential problems with apps to do 64 bit?

64 bits without issues here so it's decent to use it over 32 bits ...

Why use 32 bits anymore then ???

I ended up installing 64 bit. My main problems were Skype (sorted that out), and Crossover Linux which i can't get to run. I also have a Lightscribe drive on my latpop, and I know that can be tricky with 64 bit. I had 32 bit installed first. For some reason 64 bit boots faster and runs a bit better I think.  So if I could get Crossover Linux and Lightscribe to run it's all peachy! smile

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#13 2009-11-22 01:23:20

sHyLoCk
Member
From: /dev/null
Registered: 2009-06-19
Posts: 1,197

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

You can use multilib to run 32bit apps in x64.


~ Regards,
sHy
ArchBang: Yet another Distro for Allan to break.
Blog | GIT | Forum (。◕‿◕。)

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#14 2009-11-22 05:49:16

sand_man
Member
From: Australia
Registered: 2008-06-10
Posts: 2,164

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

Wintervenom wrote:

It bears repeating:

Wintervenom wrote:
ftornell wrote:

So what's the pros when using x64?
I can address more RAM? What else?

This... subject... has... been... beaten... like... a... dead... horse.

What kind of sick person would beat a dead horse?


neutral

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#15 2009-11-22 06:21:56

Ranguvar
Member
Registered: 2008-08-12
Posts: 2,545

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

sand_man wrote:
Wintervenom wrote:

It bears repeating:

Wintervenom wrote:

This... subject... has... been... beaten... like... a... dead... horse.

What kind of sick person would beat a dead horse?

"I'd call him a sadistic, hippophilic necrophile, but that would be beating a dead horse with a..."

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#16 2009-11-22 07:03:43

Allan
Pacman
From: Brisbane, AU
Registered: 2007-06-09
Posts: 11,365
Website

Re: 32 or 64 bit Arch?

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