Advantages of 64 Bit Architecture

Hey guys,

I'm a Linux noob I've been using SuSE since Feb. I've always wondered, what are the advantages of using a 64 bit architecture? The only thing I can think of is more addressable ram. I know Windows was limited to about 4 Gigs of ram if I'm not mistaken. Does 32 bit linux have this shortcoming as well? I highly doubt it.

Are there any speed advantages of using a 32 bit CPU vs a 64 bit CPU with the same clock rate? Is there a speed difference between running SuSE with 64 bit binaries vs running the same system with 32 bit binaries? Thanks inadvance.

My experience has been that 64bit apps run faster on 64bit architecture than the same 32bit apps run on 32bit architecture. This is just a 'gut feeling' mind you. I can't point you to quantitative measurements, but if you google it I am sure somebody has measured this.

The 64 bit processor has twice the bus bandwith that a 32 bit. I've got one but can't really see much difference.

At first read, it seems you're asking if 64bit CPUs are faster than 32bit. Then rereading I'm wondering if you mean the CPU or the operating system.

If the CPU, then one must ask AMD or Intel? I can respond to the AMD side of things and say to you that an Athlon64 3200+ will run circles around an AthlonXP 3200+. And while the XP 3200+ is the very fastest XP, the 64 3200+ is one of the slower models. The rest is easy to figure out but you can most definitely feel the difference regardless of whatever OS you are running.

I'm pretty certain that while the XP series was somewhat competitive with the comparative Intel CPUs, the Athlon64s flat clean up. Now this is my opinion (though well researched) so no flames please.

Regarding the OS, thus far, I think the differences between 64bit and 32bit may be marginal at best. I run Suse in 64 bit because I can. No other reason. At present, there are probably better reasons to run it as a 32 bit OS again, due to software limitations. For example, there is no such thing as a 64 bit Flash Player. It doesn't exist yet. This will change. But not real quickly.

As with any major change in its infancy, there are more questions than answers. But the Athlon64 hauls a$$ regardless of what software you use (except video editing and such, where Intel has proven quite superior). That question has definitely been answered over and over again.

Think of it like this: you are driving down a 2-lane (32-bit), divided, limited access Interstate highway at the speed limit (your cpu, say 3400+), now the highway becomes a 4-lane (64-bit), divided, limited access Interstate highway still at the speedlimit. Clearly, the 4-lane will carry 2x times the traffic as the 2-lane.

This advantage doesn't help in word-processing, searching the internet, sending email, etc.; but for intensive processing it surely does! A few things come to mind:
anything to do with manipulating databases especially error correcting like a mistaken sort,
scanning -- ever try to do something else while scanning a photo?,
same for photography,
and so on.

We can increase the speedlimit = 3700+ and gain more thruput; now we can even add another cpu or two and gain even more thruput.

ah yes, they are working on a bridge & it constricts us back down to 2-lanes & we get a traffic jam = bumper-to-bumper for miles. relate this to ide HDD instead of SATA, amount of RAM (= best dollar spent for upgrade), video card (yes a lot of cpu's are waiting on the video card to catch up), and so on.

then there's all those Sunday drivers poking along that have no business on the highway while you are trying to get to your date -- in other words get rid of some of the c*** running in the background.

A google of some overclocking sites should provide graphical proof that x86-64 is the way to go: AOA forums, overclocker's.com, etc

plus, 32-bit will run faster on x86-64 IMHO.

have fun

Look here: http://www.digital-daily.com/cpu/ath...ee/index04.htm

basicly an other diff is the fact that 32-bit architecture use assembly commands that are 32 bit long... the 64 use 64 bit commands...this means much more commands... you cannot use them as user but gcc take care of them... practically you end up with a system with better assembly, biger ALU and can handle larger numbers...

There is also no Southbridge on the MB of a 64bit setup. Meaning that the memory controller is built into the cpu. Things just run faster....