32 Bit vs 64 Bit

[AlbertP]

As I said before you have to install the PAE kernel to use >4GB of RAM by default on 32-bit systems. On 64-bit systems it's working out-of-the-box.

[linuxviolin]

My laptop has only 3GB RAM, and I run 64bit Mint 10 on it and 64bit OS works much better than any 32bit OS I've used on it.

Same goes for me on 2GB, 3GB and 4GB laptops. 64-bit just runs snappier without too much downsides.

Well, good for you, although I'm not sure, but not for me, at least on one of my desktops with 2 GB RAM. Oh and why not also with 1 GB RAM? lol

On this 2 GB RAM desktop I tried a 64 bit Linux version but the things were not so "smooth" and fast as expected, even sometimes it was almost the contrary. Then I have installed the 32 bit version and now this desktop flies and is fast. The people who use it are more happy now.

64 bit is not necessary for everything and even sometimes can be slower than 32 bit. So, use 64 bit if you have *really* need of it. Install 64 bit just because you can but not need can be err...

[Aethyr]

So, use 64 bit if you have *really* need of it. Install 64 bit just because you can but not need can be err...

Not strictly true. If you can run 64 bit, there's no harm in giving it a go, even if you don't really "need" it. I have a Pentium D desktop, the CPU is capable of running a 64 bit OS but I didn't know that for a long time, I used to run 32 bit OSs on it. LMDE 64 bit has been literally flying though, it's much much better, smoother and more stable than 32 bit Linux ever was - it beats my previous Ubuntu, Mint, LMDE and Arch installations by miles. While I don't strictly need to run 64 bit on it, it manages the extended 3 GB RAM much better with a 64 bit OS and CPU usage is so much lower that it's not even funny, since the 32 bit kernel never managed the 2 CPUs properly, instead overloading one of them all the time and never using the other (even though it detected both).

On the other hand, I get the feeling that a newer Core 2 machine might need a downgrade to 32 bit instead, which I'll try over the Christmas holiday. It really depends on the hardware, you never really know until you try IMO. I suppose if you're really hardware-savvy you might be able to tell just from the specs but... trial and error is the best way to learn computers as far as I'm concerned