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

[John-Thomas Richards]

On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 11:12:29PM -0400, moosebriard wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 10:34 PM, Bob Kline <bob.kline at gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 10:16 PM, Michael Mol <mikemol at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> 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.
> >>
> > Seems like switching makes sense then.  I assume enough people use
> > the 64-bit versions now for them to be as well debugged as the
> > 32-bit?
> 
> FWiW, I have been using 64 bit mint 13 for quite some time.  I trialed it
> in a VM before loading it to my home server.  I have been very happy with
> it.  There were a couple simple fixes which for me were gold.  It has been
> stable and is almost perfectly tailored to my style....with a few tweaks of
> course.  I run a quad core AMD with 16 GB ram.  I provisioned a swap space
> of 4 GB but I have never seen it utilized, even when running (cough) a
> Winy7 Virtualbox (4GB) and occasionally I will start a BT5 session to which
> I think I allocated 2GB.
> 
> I'm a big fan of Mint.  I tried many different distros before I finally
> converted to Linux a couple years ago but I found Mint to most suit my
> fancies.  I recommend it.

I'm running Linux Mint Debian Edition which is probably 95% (well, now
that they have Mate maybe 90%) Debian and is fully compatible with
Debian.  I actually update with the Debian repositories as well because
the Mint team have zero understanding of "rolling release."
-- 
john-thomas
------
In cases of defense 'tis best to weigh the enemy more mighty than he seems.
Shakespeare