Arch Linux

k5knt

Member

From: San Angelo, TX

Registered: 2010-01-02

Posts: 6

Intel Atom N450 - 32 or 64 Bit install

I have an ASUS Eee PC 1018pb netbook I plan on installing arch on. Would it be better to install the i686 or the x86_64 version?
Wikipedia seems to indicate that the Atom N450 is a 64 bit CPU.
It came pre-installed with Windows 7 Starter 32-bit.

Thanks,

Kent

akurei

Member

From: Bochum, NRW, Germany

Registered: 2009-05-25

Posts: 152

Website

Re: Intel Atom N450 - 32 or 64 Bit install

Many preconfigured computers come with 7 32-bit preinstalled, because vendors believe they run into fewer problems with 32 bit.
If you don't want to run extensive number crunching (or full-disk-encryption), I would install the 32 bit version. You won't max out the 4 GB RAM limit anyway.

lucke

Member

From: Poland

Registered: 2004-11-30

Posts: 4,018

Re: Intel Atom N450 - 32 or 64 Bit install

I'd surely go with 32-bit on a netbook.

karol

Archivist

Registered: 2009-05-06

Posts: 25,440

Re: Intel Atom N450 - 32 or 64 Bit install

I'd surely go with 32-bit on a netbook.

+1
Your cpu is 64-bit-capable but it's sorta backward-compatible so you can install 32-bit system and apps.

k5knt

Member

From: San Angelo, TX

Registered: 2010-01-02

Posts: 6

Re: Intel Atom N450 - 32 or 64 Bit install

Thanks for all the very prompt replies... 32 bit it is.