On Mon, 14 May 2007 21:23:30 -0600 Pueblo Native <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> it seems that almost everybody I've talked to has advised me not to go > with the 64 bit version of OpenSuse because there really is no speed > advantage (if that's not good advice I'd like to hear otherwise). So > then, if there is no speed advantage, what's the point in even having a > 64 bit processor right now? There's already been lots of excellent discussion. In my work, I have been doing 64-bit computing for over 10 years starting with Digital's OSF/1 (now Tru64 Unix) on the Alpha. Linus actually ported Linux over to the Alpha about 1995. We all know about the memory advantage, which is a large linear memory model, but even for systems with under 3GB, a 64-bit application can take advantage of 64 bit integers. On the x86-64 chip in 64-bit mode you have twice as many registers available to both the kernel and application. There is better graphics support. This all translates to better performance, but only if the kernel and applications take advantage. However there is a downside. A 64-bit application has a larger footprint than the same application in 32-bit causing it to possibly load slower. Some applications, such as Povray, really benefit in 64-bits, but I have seen some well-written applications run slower in 64-bits. IMHO, if you have a 64-bit processor, then run the 64-bit OS unless there is some specific reason you can't. -- Jerry Feldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Boston Linux and Unix user group http://www.blu.org PGP key id:C5061EA9 PGP Key fingerprint:053C 73EC 3AC1 5C44 3E14 9245 FB00 3ED5 C506 1EA9
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