Gentoo Archives: gentoo-user

From: Nikos Chantziaras <realnc@×××××.com>
To: gentoo-user@l.g.o
Subject: [gentoo-user] Re: x32 ABI
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2012 02:49:28
Message-Id: jv7gvv$9as$1@dough.gmane.org
In Reply to: Re: [gentoo-user] x32 ABI by Walter Dnes
1 On 30/07/12 23:42, Walter Dnes wrote:
2 > On Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 11:40:50AM -0500, Alecks Gates wrote
3 >
4 >> What are the benefits and drawbacks of using the x32 ABI, other than
5 >> the obvious "experimental" cautions? I currently do not have a
6 >> computer with more than 4GB of ram, and one only has 2GB (used as a
7 >> media center).
8 >
9 > In theory, real life is identical to theory. In real life, real life
10 > is different from theory. A 32-bit system can directly address 4 gigs
11 > of memory. The problem is that the 4 gigs includes your video ram. So
12 > you lose part of the top end of your 4 gigs of ram, to make room for
13 > your video card's ram. This is true for both linux and Windows. A bit
14 > over 3 gigs is the effective memory max for 32-bit systems.
15 >
16 > 32-bit linux can access the extra ram for data storage, via some
17 > jumping through flaming hoops, but it's slower than direct addressing
18 > via 64-bit mode. If you have 4 gigs on a machine, it's a candidate for
19 > 64-bit mode.
20 >
21
22 That's a problem with x86, not x32. x32 is a 64-bit mode. It's a new
23 ABI :-)

Replies

Subject Author
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: x32 ABI Walter Dnes <waltdnes@××××××××.org>