64-bit computer

[AmpersUK]

Hi all,

I am a little uncertain about this message in the Ubuntu page:

Click the big orange button to download the latest version of Ubuntu. You will need to create a CD or USB stick to install Ubuntu.

32-bit - Recommended for most users
64-bit - Not recommended for daily desktop usage

I have a 64-bit computer with 8GB of memory. and am a little alarmed at the new message against "64-bit" which wasn't there when I originally downloaded the software and installed it. I have 10.04 64-bit Ubuntu installed.



There are many minor issues that I am not happy with but rather than complaining, I decided to wait until they all got fixed. But now it doesn't look as if they will be.


What should I do?



Would it help to leave Ubuntu (which I am reluctant to do) and find a distro that has solved the problems for desktops working with 64-bit?


Or will 32-bit work on my machine?


I know a 32-bit machine with more than 3GB of memory is now supported with Ubuntu's Lucid 32-bit, but can I run a 32-bit version on my 64-bit computer and still access the 8GB of RAM?


I purchased 64-bit because my supplier (Power Computing of Bedofrd) has stopped making 32-bit machines.


Any help on this issue would be appreciated.



Ampers

[HereInOz]

The 32 bit version will work on a machine with 64 bit hardware.

The only thing you will lose is the ability to take advantage of the uniquely 64 bit stuff, like the ability to access more than 3.2GB RAM, and things like that.

If you are unhappy with the 64 bit version, install the 32 bit version, it will work fine.

Also, check out this post on the same matter.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1498697

Cheers.

[philinux]

@AmperUk,

That message only sprung up with lucid. Not sure why at the moment. I've been using 64 bit for 18 months on my desktop with no problems at all.

The only issue is installing flash. The 64 bit alpha from adobe is way better than 32 bit with the wrapper to install it.

If you got 8gig ram then 64 bit is the way to go.

It's bugged too.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-website/+bug/585940

I've also emailed the webmaster at ubuntu.com

[dcstar]

........
It's bugged too.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-website/+bug/585940

I've also emailed the webmaster at ubuntu.com

Somebody must have a large bullet hole in the foot by now over this......

[popey]

Just to clear up some misinformation. It _is_ possible to address more than 3.2GB on a 32-bit install of Ubuntu.

If you perform a clean install of 9.10 or 10.04 it should detect that you have more than 3.2GB of RAM and install a kernel (PAE) which supports it.

If you upgraded your RAM after installing, or you installed an older version of Ubuntu and then upgraded, you might not have the PAE kernel installed. In that situation just install the package 'linux-image-generic-pae' to address all the available RAM in your computer.

http://packages.ubuntu.com/linux-image-generic-pae

This is a meta package which will pull in the latest PAE kernel for your release. Note this is the current one for Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid):-

http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/lin...21-generic-pae

Note from the description: "Geared toward 32 bit desktop systems with more then 4GB RAM."

Note: On some computers this doesn't work, so 64-bit might be better for those people, but for many this does work.

[Merk42]

Just to clear up some misinformation. It _is_ possible to address more than 3.2GB on a 32-bit install of Ubuntu.

If you perform a clean install of 9.10 or 10.04 it should detect that you have more than 3.2GB of RAM and install a kernel (PAE) which supports it.

If you upgraded your RAM after installing, or you installed an older version of Ubuntu and then upgraded, you might not have the PAE kernel installed. In that situation just install the package 'linux-image-generic-pae' to address all the available RAM in your computer.

http://packages.ubuntu.com/linux-image-generic-pae

This is a meta package which will pull in the latest PAE kernel for your release. Note this is the current one for Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid):-

http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/lin...21-generic-pae

Note from the description: "Geared toward 32 bit desktop systems with more then 4GB RAM."

Note: On some computers this doesn't work, so 64-bit might be better for those people, but for many this does work.

Though 64bit Ubuntu has other advantages than just easily using more RAM.

[popey]

Though 64bit Ubuntu has other advantages than just easily using more RAM.

Sure, and those performance graphs speak for themselves. I was merely addressing one of the main misconceptions about 32bit-vs-64-bit. Thanks for the link!

[philinux]

While were at it.

http://www.tuxradar.com/content/ubun...bit-benchmarks

[MooPi]

While were at it.

http://www.tuxradar.com/content/ubun...bit-benchmarks

Nice article, Thanks. I use 64 bit but only have issues with Hulu. Not a game changer but an annoyance to say the least.

[AmpersUK]

Thanks to all of your for your replies.

In reading them all I have decided to reload the 64-bit version of 10.04 and considering Flash, am pretty certain I will stick with the 32-bit version in the wrapper until Flash 11 is released.

Ampers