Hello guys I’m running on a Intel i7 930 and Nvidia GTX470 with 6GB of ram. I’ll download OpenSUSE 11.3 as soon as it’s available but I need help with choosing 64 bit or 32 bit. I’m running Windows 7 64 bit on my computer, but the only reason I installed 64 bit Windows is because 32 bit Windows doesn’t support 6GB ram. But Linux(PAE kernel) does. I experienced this with Ubuntu server edition.
Now I’m asking your opinions, is 64 bit OpenSUSE really worth it? You know, I don’t know if it’s stable as 32 bit and I guess it’s harder to find 64 bit packages… Will it be easy to make OpenSUSE 32 bit support 6GB ram? I’ve heard that with a PAE kernel one single process can’t use more than 3,5GB ram but it’s not a really big problem isn’t it? Since I think I’ll use more than 3,5GB ram when I’m multitasking… Thanks.
Edit: wanted to add that I’m using Gigabyte X58A-UD3R with Achi mode(enabled it for Linux) SATA3. I don’t have USB 3 device so I even disabled USB3 on bios hehe.
> 4 GB? I’d definitely go 64-bit. Why not? I have been running
exclusively 64-bit for several years, as have all others I’ve helped who
did not have a clue about how I setup their boxes, and I haven’t had more
problems with 64-bit than 32-bit with very few exceptions (Flash used to
be a pain in the butt, but it’s seamless now too).
Good luck.
On 07/14/2010 02:56 PM, TheShader wrote:
>
> Hello guys I’m running on a Intel i7 930 and Nvidia GTX470 with 6GB of
> ram. I’ll download OpenSUSE 11.3 as soon as it’s available but I need
> help with choosing 64 bit or 32 bit. I’m running Windows 7 64 bit on my
> computer, but the only reason I installed 64 bit Windows is because 32
> bit Windows doesn’t support 6GB ram. But Linux(PAE kernel) does. I
> experienced this with Ubuntu server edition.
>
> Now I’m asking your opinions, is 64 bit OpenSUSE really worth it? You
> know, I don’t know if it’s stable as 32 bit and I guess it’s harder to
> find 64 bit packages… Will it be easy to make OpenSUSE 32 bit support
> 6GB ram? I’ve heard that with a PAE kernel one single process can’t use
> more than 3,5GB ram but it’s not a really big problem isn’t it? Since I
> think I’ll use more than 3,5GB ram when I’m multitasking… Thanks.
>
> Edit: wanted to add that I’m using Gigabyte X58A-UD3R with Achi
> mode(enabled it for Linux) SATA3. I don’t have USB 3 device so I even
> disabled USB3 on bios hehe.
>
> Please correct me where I am wrong.
>
>
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Now adays, with 64bit hardware, its possible the other question that need be asked. ie … should one still be using 32-bit and are their risks to using the old 32-bit ? Most developers and packagers now have 64-bit, and most recent software has a very slightly greater possibility of working on 64-bit as opposed to32-bit. If you are like me and like to do a lot of video rendering with your core i7, then 64-bit will be faster than 32-bit.
I can’t think of any app I’m running that’s 32 bit except GoogleEarth and the Flash plugin - in Linux I’m pretty sure if its foss and it’s available as a 32bit then it’s available in 64bit. Linux isn’t Windows where 64bit apps are rare, here it’s the norm (or darn close to it).
I’m running the desktop kernel (obviously optimized for the desktop) with 4gb recognized. From The package notes: “This kernel supports up to 64GB of main memory. It requires Physical Addressing Extensions (PAE), which were introduced with the Pentium Pro processor.”
As noted earlier there are some tasks like video editing and database that can take advantage of the added registers and address space and will run faster than 32bit.
Well i have openSuse 11.2 64bit running on mine and 16GB ram and i have no problems with anything i have run into some weird things just no problems. One of the reasons i have so much RAM is when i use a VBox running WinXP that alone takes 5GB of RAM.
Clean boot i’m running about 700MB but i have not stopped some of the default programs running because i’m waiting on 11.3 to do a new install and then i will have it running smooth…I hope. But i do a lot of graphics so i use Gimp and Photoshop plus Corel Paint.
But for your question yes 64bit just think about what you see for sale in the computer stores now they are just about all 64bit and just about everything is getting coded for 64bit. Like the old saying goes THE NEED FOR SPEED!!!
I also have a 64bit PC. I’ll say this much if you have a 64, even though it’ll take 32, why not use 64?
Now I’ve also run 32 on my 64 PC & it does seem to be just a tick or 2 faster. Also if you are interested in futureproofing your PC 64 bit is the way to go.
I can’t say that I 've noticed much difference between them on my 64bit hardware. However for running 11.2 and testing 11.3, I used 64bit on the basis that it will get more testing (devs, and forum users) than 32bit now, given the proliferation of 64bit systems. It’s now become the weapon of choice and has been very reliable.
Tried 64bit and it’s a no luck approach ext4 got trashed twice, ext3 got trashed once. IDE’s have not come out that are 64bit enabled (they all still require 32bit libraries to run properly) but that said, the output does compile and run on 64bit system as 64bit apps.
32bit PAE ran the 32bit IDE environments, and code produced was capable of compiling for both 32bit and 64bit systems. So at least for me 64bit isn’t ready since IDE’s are not 64bit compatible they must have 32bit libraries to function.
I’m skeptical that ext4 (or ext3) had a problem due to x86_64 vs. x86_32.
Is it possible? Sure, but likely? No. I’ve been using ext4 heavily for
the last year (exclusively x86_64) and as far as I know I have not lost a
single byte across multiple disks/filesystems/distributions.
Also, IDEs are already x86_64 enabled. For compiling something in x86_32
you may need 32-bit libraries I suppose but the same would be required of
64-bit libraries for compiling 64-bit stuff. x86_32 code is, by default,
able to be run on x86_64 machines assuming all dependencies (libraries
mostly) are present so I do not think your test was valid.
Just my two bits…
Good luck.
On 07/14/2010 08:26 PM, techwiz03 wrote:
>
> Tried 64bit and it’s a no luck approach ext4 got trashed twice, ext3 got
> trashed once. IDE’s have not come out that are 64bit enabled (they all
> still require 32bit libraries to run properly) but that said, the output
> does compile and run on 64bit system as 64bit apps.
>
> 32bit PAE ran the 32bit IDE environments, and code produced was capable
> of compiling for both 32bit and 64bit systems. So at least for me 64bit
> isn’t ready since IDE’s are not 64bit compatible they must have 32bit
> libraries to function.
>
>
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I have a Toshiba L300 with AMD athlon x2 64 using ati Radeon Video.
Installed openSUSE 11.1_64 using ext4 about 1 week later could not access /ext corrupt filesystem
Re-installed again and about 1 week later once more corrupt filesystem
Re-installed using ext3 and 1 day later corrupt filesystem
Re-installed 11.1_32PAE using ext4 runs fine not a problem at all
Switched to 11.2_64 fresh install ext4 and back to corrupt filesystem
Switched back to 11.2_32PAE using ext4 back to running fine
Also, IDEs are already x86_64 enabled. For compiling something in x86_32
you may need 32-bit libraries I suppose but the same would be required of
64-bit libraries for compiling 64-bit stuff. x86_32 code is, by default,
able to be run on x86_64 machines assuming all dependencies (libraries
mostly) are present so I do not think your test was valid.
With regard to IDE development in x64
kbasic … c/c++ programing environment works, Window designer only works if you create whole window all at once. Go back in to edit and program crashes when you goto save. x32PAE does not have this issue. Produced code is very poor
xForms … c/c++ programing environment also works, Window designer crashes on first object creation. x32PAE works without problem but again very poor code output
xBasic … Basic, Assembly, C++ programing environment does not work with C++ code, Window designer crashes after about 10 objects. x32PAE does not have this issue. (xBasic does not currently have x64 libraries for it’s IDE but programs written in xBasic can reference x64 externals if desired) Very tight well defined assembly code output
QT4.3 … worked x64 and x32PAE but unsuitable coder, trying upgrade to QT4.5 wiped out system as YAST removed 90% of KDE, 50% of base openSUSE system. Found later that you have to upgrade both QT4.5 & KDE using CLI because KDE is QT4 based so that system got confused during un-install and wiped everything until the upgrade crashed. My fault for trying I guess.
QT4.5 … worked in x32PAE but wouldn’t start in x64 … was suggested to upgrade QT4.5 to QT4.6 to fix. Did try using CLI zypper but dependencies would not resolve left me with no KDE or QT4.6 until I rolled back to QT4.5 & KDE.
Have been running 64 bit on all my computers, laptops and desktops for a few years now. Never a problem at all, and the difference in speed is one worth noting, 10 to 20% faster then running the now old outdated 32 bit technology.
> Now I’m asking your opinions, is 64 bit OpenSUSE really worth it? You
> know, I don’t know if it’s stable as 32 bit and I guess it’s harder to
> find 64 bit packages…
64 bits doesn’t necessarily mean that it runs faster. What it means is
that it can move (or process) more data in the same time. Is like
having a truck of double size, but same speed. Thus some programs can
benefit a lot, if programmed to use it, and some do not benefit at all.
And there is the possible side effect of using double the memory (if
the application has not been properly prepared).
> Will it be easy to make OpenSUSE 32 bit
> support 6GB ram? I’ve heard that with a PAE kernel one single process
> can’t use more than 3,5GB ram but it’s not a really big problem isn’t
> it? Since I think I’ll use more than 3,5GB ram when I’m
> multitasking… Thanks.
There is a limit per process, but between all of them you can use a lot
more.
I have tried the same computer on both 32 and 64 bit oS, and didn’t
really notice a difference. Of course, I use the 64 bit version most,
to see what happens. Some video codecs and some propietary apps are
only made in 32 bits. Flash is 32 bit only, the 64 bit version was
removed after a security bug recently.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.2 x86_64 “Emerald” GM (Minas Tirith))
An important consideration in many cases is that, while some older (or
dumb, in Flash’s case) software is 32-bit only it still runs on 64-bit
(when we’re talking about x86_32 and x86_64, which most people usually
talk about as if the two sets of terms were synonymous, which they are
not). Anyway, just wanted to throw that in.
Good luck.
On 07/15/2010 07:08 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote:
> On 2010-07-14 20:56 GMT TheShader wrote:
>
>
>> Now I’m asking your opinions, is 64 bit OpenSUSE really worth it? You
>> know, I don’t know if it’s stable as 32 bit and I guess it’s harder to
>> find 64 bit packages…
>
> 64 bits doesn’t necessarily mean that it runs faster. What it means is
> that it can move (or process) more data in the same time. Is like
> having a truck of double size, but same speed. Thus some programs can
> benefit a lot, if programmed to use it, and some do not benefit at all.
> And there is the possible side effect of using double the memory (if
> the application has not been properly prepared).
>
>> Will it be easy to make OpenSUSE 32 bit
>> support 6GB ram? I’ve heard that with a PAE kernel one single process
>> can’t use more than 3,5GB ram but it’s not a really big problem isn’t
>> it? Since I think I’ll use more than 3,5GB ram when I’m
>> multitasking… Thanks.
>
> There is a limit per process, but between all of them you can use a lot
> more.
>
>
> I have tried the same computer on both 32 and 64 bit oS, and didn’t
> really notice a difference. Of course, I use the 64 bit version most,
> to see what happens. Some video codecs and some propietary apps are
> only made in 32 bits. Flash is 32 bit only, the 64 bit version was
> removed after a security bug recently.
>
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Thanks for the help guys… I’m downloading the 64bit DVD now. It’s slow, with 1700 peers and all of the mirrors set as web seeds on torrent I’ve had to set my SATA3 HDD to achi mode in order to make it run Ubuntu Server 10.04 32bit kernel. Will I have to do that in 64 bit OpenSUSE too? Because I guess IDE is a lot faster. And I’ve been using my mainboard with 32bit HPET mode. I’ve read somewhere that if I’m mostly using 32 bit stuff, 32 bit HPED is better(Since I got almost everything in Program Files x86 on Windows, I selected 32) but now I’ll be using a real 64 bit OS, it’s better to make HPET 64 bit right?
> An important consideration in many cases is that, while some older (or
> dumb, in Flash’s case) software is 32-bit only it still runs on 64-bit
> (when we’re talking about x86_32 and x86_64, which most people usually
> talk about as if the two sets of terms were synonymous, which they are
> not). Anyway, just wanted to throw that in.
32 bit software can be used on 64 bit hardware running 64 bit operating
system, provided that the os is prepared for that. I mean that you need
having compatible 32 bits libs the 32 bits program can use, in the 64
bit system - ie, there is no guarantee that any 32 bit software you
need to use runs in the 64 bit os. You have to try. Recent problems
with scanners comes to mind (propietary drivers, I think).
I will have to test that my self soon enough, I need to use some
32 bit abandoware in 64 bit suse.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 11.2 x86_64 “Emerald” GM (Minas Tirith))
The only big downside to 64-bit is some of the packages can only be found in the 32-bit form (Emulators especially) but even then 95% of the time they install and work fine.
It is really more of a frustration when compiling them since those programs tend to have 32-bit assembly code written in.
I’ve had to set my SATA3 HDD to achi mode in order to make it run Ubuntu Server 10.04 32bit kernel. Will I have to do that in 64 bit OpenSUSE too? Because I guess IDE is a lot faster. And I’ve been using my mainboard with 32bit HPET mode. I’ve read somewhere that if I’m mostly using 32 bit stuff, 32 bit HPED is better(Since I got almost everything in Program Files x86 on Windows, I selected 32) but now I’ll be using a real 64 bit OS, it’s better to make HPET 64 bit right?