32 or 64 bit kernel for Duo T8400 processor ? Can apps be 32 bit for 64 bit kernel ?

[Jerry Feldman]

The x86_64 family of chips is not just 64-bit. It also has more 
registers. Address space is linear rather than segmented. Most desktop 
users will not notice the difference between 32-bits and 64-bits 
especially if we have under 4GB of RAM. The bottom line is that a 64-bit 
Linux OS is generally more efficient than a 32-bit Linux. Linux has been 
a 64-bit OS for about 14 years, and there are very few reasons to run a 
32-bit Linux on a 64-bit chip. Nearly all PC hardware sold today is 
64-bit hardware.

The problem we have is twofold. Some developers just don't want to 
maintain 64-bit and 32-bit versions of their code. I think this will 
change in the near future now that 64-bit Windows is available for the 
consumer market.

-- 
Jerry Feldman <gaf at blu.org>
Boston Linux and Unix
PGP key id: 537C5846
PGP Key fingerprint: 3D1B 8377 A3C0 A5F2 ECBB  CA3B 4607 4319 537C 5846


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