[GRLUG] 32bit vs. 64bit [Was: Random questions]

[Michael Mol]

On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 9:34 PM, Adam Tauno Williams
<awilliam at whitemice.org> wrote:
>
>
> Bob Kline <bob.kline at gmail.com> wrote:
>>I still use a 32-bit version of Linux.
>>What's to be gained or lost by going
>>to a 64-bit version?
>
>
> Effectively nothing.  Pointers are larger and often scalar values default to larger - so the exact same applications consume more resources.  On the other hand you get more registers, a larger address space [with somewhat less 'cobbling'] and a few new operations.  For a typical desktop the difference is really a wash;  possibly a small negative of RAM is under-provisioned.

If you're using framework-heavy code like browsers, KDE or GNOME,
those extra registers are helpful.

-- 
:wq