Preparing Ubuntu 10.04 new install - 32 or 64 bit? Please suggest.

[Yorvyk]

On Mon, 4 Apr 2011 09:30:49 +0530
Rigved Rakshit <r.phate at gmail.com> wrote:

> >
> > From: "Juan R. de Silva" <juan.r.d.silva at gmail.com>
> > To: ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> > Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 02:56:22 +0000 (UTC)
> > Subject: Preparing Ubuntu 10.04 new install - 32 or 64 bit? Please suggest.
> > My PSU smoked out burning an old Asus P4PE motherboard aw well, thus
> > effectively invalidating the rest of the system components, otherwise
> > still functioning.
> >
> > So, I had to configure myself a brand new system as follows:
> >
> > - Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy
> > Bridge 6MB
> > - ASUS P8P67 ATX P67 LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI USB3.0 Sandy
> > Bridge B3 Motherboard
> > - G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24
> > Memory
> > - Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB SATA3 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB Cache 3.5IN
> > Dual Proc Hard Drive
> > - Sapphire Radeon HD 5570 650MHZ 1Gb 1.8GHZ DDR3 PCI-E VGA DVI HDMI Low
> > Profile Video Card
> >
> > Having until now and old system running Intel P4 1.4 GHz I've never been
> > concerned with 32 vs. 64 bit dilemma, and now I am.
> >
> > I'm going to install Ubuntu 10.04. When I get to the Ubuntu Download page
> > and selecte the desired version I am offered by default "32-bit
> > (recommended)" option.
> >
> > What would you suggest - 32 or 64 bit? My new hardware suggest 64 bit.
> > But would I run into any problems going this way: performance,
> > applications support/availability, etc.? Why Ubuntu folks recommend 32
> > bit instead of 64 bit version?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> 
> The 64-bit version is the best option for your system. Now that the 64-bit
> flash player has been released (even though it is in beta state), I think
> that there will be no problem with a 64-bit install. Plus, in your case, a
> 64-bit install is guaranteed to be faster that a 32-bit install.
> 
That's not a guarantee I'd like to make.  http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=ubuntu_natty_pae64&num=1

> The 32-bit version is recommended on the website for novice users. These
> users may not know the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The
> 32-bit version is always guaranteed to work, even on 64-bit capable systems.
> This is why it is the recommended option on the website.
> 
There are still some third party apps and drivers that are 32 bit, some of which are rather troublesome to get working on 64 bit.  I'd put both 64 and 32 bit on the machine and see if there is any thing that's a problem with 64 bit and not with 32 bit.

-- 
Steve Cook (Yorvyk)

http://lubuntu.net