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My computer uses an older single-core Athlon 64 CPU. It supports PAE but I only have 3 GB RAM. Is there any advantge to using the PAE kernel if the machine really can't take advantage of it? Lately I've been experimenting with the std 486 kernel and it seems to be a tad more responsive. Could be my imagination though, or a really good install

Just wondering for wondering's sake...thanks!

The hardware NX-bit could be a good reason to run the i686-pae kernel if you can: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NX_bit

I would only use i486 if the CPU doesn't work with the i686-pae kernel or I was trying to maximize performance at all cost. The i486 kernel doesn't support SMP, less overhead... that's probably what you see:
http://womble.decadent.org.uk/blog/upco ... -i386.html

nunol wrote:The hardware NX-bit could be a good reason to run the i686-pae kernel if you can: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NX_bit

I would only use i486 if the CPU doesn't work with the i686-pae kernel or I was trying to maximize performance at all cost. The i486 kernel doesn't support SMP, less overhead... that's probably what you see:
http://womble.decadent.org.uk/blog/upco ... -i386.html

Interesting, nunol. So there are security advantages in using the PAE kernel even in lower memory applications. I do like the snappier feel, but security is a good reason to update

You could try to have both by making your own kernel.

Check "4.5 Building a custom kernel from Debian kernel source":
http://kernel-handbook.alioth.debian.or ... tasks.html