64 bit vs 32 bit - advice needed

[Tuliku]

Hi all,

Yes, i did read the sticky stuff with the pro's and cons, etc, etc.
But i need some advice from users about experience.

Before i had a p4, 3 ghz, 1 gb ram. 500 gb (2)disk.
Running dual boot "win xp pro 32 bit" + "ubuntu 32 bit".
All good all nice, but pc was 7 years old, and yesterday bought a new one.

So this is my new setup: intel core 2 duo e8400 box 3 ghz, 4 gb ram, 1500 gb (2)disks.
Installed yesterday evening win xp pro sp2 64 bit, and it is ok, nice fast, but some software does not function on it.
So doubting about upgrading to vista, but that's another story not for this forum.

Now i'm doubting between ubuntu:
- Standard personal computer (x86 architecture, PentiumTM, CeleronTM, AthlonTM, SempronTM)
- 64bit AMD and Intel computers

Usage would be mainly reading mail, slowly expanding my linux knowledge, play with gimp, and so on.

For windows the reason for 64 bit is mainly the 4 gb memory support.

How does ubuntu 32 and 64 bit deal with that, and for my purposes, what would be the best according to your user experience ?

Thanks for your comments in advance :-)

[philinux]

If you've got 4gig of ram and a graphics card I'd go with 64 bit. I've been running Hardy 64 since April no probs whatsoever. Apart from me fiddling, you know. Everything is in the repo's.

[Tuliku]

yep, me gots a geforce 9600 GT 512 mb videocard.
cool, so you have not run into any issue's related to 64bit in ubuntu ?

[YldGuy]

i am using 64 bit hardy, although i have 1.5 gig ram only but i havent run into any.. i repeat.. any kind of issues related to s/w or h/w. all the apps and hardware work fine... wifi, lan, skype video, gimp, UrT, sound, graphics, suspend, hibernate. you name it .. all are fine.

[ilrudie]

I have also had good success with Hardy 64-bit. The only issue I have come across so far is Cisco's Linux VPN client has issues with 64-bit.

[philinux]

yep, me gots a geforce 9600 GT 512 mb videocard.
cool, so you have not run into any issue's related to 64bit in ubuntu ?

The only problem is flash. Flash works don't get me wrong. Not so much of a problem but the fact that there is only a 32 bit version available and it needs nspluginwrapper to make it work. This is all taken care of by the system anyway. There is a 64 bit version on the way but not till early next year.

Other than this "problem" I have to say it's been plain sailing. The best way to go is to get the live cd and let it check out your hardware.

[Sef]

moved to recurring discussions.

[Sephoroth]

Agreed. I've been running 64 bit releases since Gutsy Gibbon. The main annoyance has always been Flash and Java Applets.

[tuxxy]

I would like to point out that Flash isnt just a 64-bit issue, a lot of 32-bit users experience trouble also.

Heres a link to the 64-bit user-group (http://ubuntuforums.org/group.php?groupid=258)