Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

mibadt · 2010-07-31 07:07:28

Hi,
For the last 2 years I've enjoyed using Arch (32b) on my PC.
Next month I plan to buy a new, multicore desktop with 6 GB RAM .
I know that the 32b kernel can access more than 3GB RAM (although it's limited to allocate up to 3 GB per process which is OK with me), given that the kernel is compiled with the PAE option.
Due to flash/Skype, I prefer to install the 32b Arch/KDE on my new PC given that the kernel is configured with above PAE option.

Does anybody know the answer?

Thanks!

Last edited by mibadt (2010-07-31 07:07:44)

Allan · 2010-07-31 07:15:50

Sort of. You can go for a full blown x86_64 install or use and x86_64 kernel on an i686 system, on build a PAE i686 kernel.

mibadt · 2010-07-31 09:01:38

Thanks,
Your answer implies that the default 32b Arch kernel does not have PAE. Right?

karol · 2010-07-31 09:56:47

mibadt wrote:

Thanks,
Your answer implies that the default 32b Arch kernel does not have PAE. Right?

There may be some kernels with PEA in the AUR but if you don't _really_ need the 32-bits go for 64.

Allan · 2010-07-31 09:59:11

mibadt wrote:

Thanks,
Your answer implies that the default 32b Arch kernel does not have PAE. Right?

Correct.

R00KIE · 2010-07-31 10:17:59

If your problem is just skype and flash I can report that I've been using both on x86_64 without any kind of problems.

For Skype + pulse you will need a few lib32 stuff, as far as I can tell all the needed lib32 stuff is already on the repos, and for 32bit flash you will need a couple of packages from AUR and some lib32 stuff to get flash to play nice with pulse if you use it.

mibadt · 2010-08-03 01:15:46

Thanks all, I've decided to go 64 b.

frigaut · 2010-08-03 02:39:38

I too have been running happily x86_64 for almost a year and no problem with flash (although you know adobe has been discontinuing the linux 64 bits flash due to a security flaw, so be warned), and skype (with 32 bits libs).

Korrode · 2010-08-07 13:48:28

I'm a PAE user personally (kernel26-pae in AUR). Always worked perfectly for me.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-07-31 07:07:28

Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

#2 2010-07-31 07:15:50

Re: Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

#3 2010-07-31 09:01:38

Re: Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

#4 2010-07-31 09:56:47

Re: Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

#5 2010-07-31 09:59:11

Re: Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

#6 2010-07-31 10:17:59

Re: Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

#7 2010-08-03 01:15:46

Re: Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

#8 2010-08-03 02:39:38

Re: Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

#9 2010-08-07 13:48:28

Re: Do I need Arch 64 to access 6 GB RAM?

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