On Nov 22, 2007, at 2:17 PM, Craig White wrote: > easy answer...Dell Optiplex 320 > > i386 (32 bit) had multiple issues on this hardware including but most > especially the inability to work properly with the drive controller > (SB > 600) and a heavy hammer of requiring kernel parameter of acpi=off. > 86_64 > didn't have those issues which made the choice of installing 64 bit > rather easy.
Thanks Craig. That was the clue I needed to figure this out enough to satisfy my curiosity. It appears that the notion I had picked up that it was reasonable to support 64-bit applications on a 32-bit kernel applies only to the Core 2 and comparable generation of CPUs in the Intel/AMD world. For the Pentium D chips used in the Optiplex, 64-bit mode is pretty much all or nothing, though, as you point out, there are wrappers for things like plug-ins. I think this answers my question about why Linux is went down the dual track mode. The developers couldn't ignore a generation of CPUs. Apparently these Optiplex machines have 64-bit BIOS and require 64-bit drivers, which leads me to wonder how you can get 32-bit Windows to run on them. -- In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take. -Adlai Stevenson, statesman (1900-1965) --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
