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Author Topic: Linux and 64-bit  (Read 581 times)

SAJChurchey

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Linux and 64-bit
« on: 16 April 2003, 04:07 »
How well does Linux handle a 64-bit processor?  Will it perform better?

Another feature of a 64-bit processor is greater amount of RAM that can be installed.  I read somewhere a while back that more than 1GB of RAM can slow ur system down.  Is that ture w/ modern kernel builds?
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Pantso

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Linux and 64-bit
« Reply #1 on: 16 April 2003, 04:15 »
quote:
Originally posted by SAJChurchey:
How well does Linux handle a 64-bit processor?  Will it perform better?

Another feature of a 64-bit processor is greater amount of RAM that can be installed.  I read somewhere a while back that more than 1GB of RAM can slow ur system down.  Is that ture w/ modern kernel builds?


Linux had a 64-bit version for the Alpha platform, so it's not a big deal to port a similar version for the x86 one. You might also find this article helpful.

As for your second question, I really can't understand how putting more RAM could decrease the performance. If that's true, I'd also like to know why.   ;)
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KernelPanic

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Linux and 64-bit
« Reply #2 on: 16 April 2003, 04:24 »
quote:
Originally posted by SAJChurchey:
How well does Linux handle a 64-bit processor?  Will it perform better?

Another feature of a 64-bit processor is greater amount of RAM that can be installed.  I read somewhere a while back that more than 1GB of RAM can slow ur system down.  Is that ture w/ modern kernel builds?


Yes, Linux supported Intel Itanium and AMD 64-bit before Windows did.
That point you made about RAM is outdated I believe, although it's probably still true on some OS'es.
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ForceSphere

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Linux and 64-bit
« Reply #3 on: 16 April 2003, 04:25 »
Well, the only thing i can think of is, if your system is using lets say PC-133 RAM and u fill it up, but then the last slot you have an old 16 meg PC-66 you put in.  I think that will slow you down, thats all i know tho.
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Pantso

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Linux and 64-bit
« Reply #4 on: 16 April 2003, 04:27 »
Hmm, I think that newer kernel versions will be able to handle RAM more efficiently.
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SAJChurchey

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Linux and 64-bit
« Reply #5 on: 16 April 2003, 19:51 »
Actually, I think it had something to do w/ the cache memory.  You would have to add more cache b4 u could add more than 1GB of RAM, but I think that may be out of date.  Just something I was wondering.

So, what about the AMD Opteron processor coming out?  It uses the x86 instruction set.  So will it need a different build?
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TheQuirk

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Linux and 64-bit
« Reply #6 on: 17 April 2003, 04:41 »
This is about the Itanium 2, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. Today SCO announced a Linux distro designed for the Itanium 2 based on UnitedLinux.

This will be the third company to release such a thing, following the footsteps of RH and SuSE.
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