[gentoo-user] Re: 64 bit or not

[Harry Putnam]

Duncan <1i5t5.duncan@×××.net> writes:


[...]

> For the most part, the Free, Libre, and Open Source Software (FLOSS) side,
> certainly for the commonly used stuff, has long ago been ported, and will
> present little or no issues related to 64-bit.

[...]  Snipped lots of good info

> Condensing that all down to a simple summary, most stuff you will run is
> available in 64-bit, no problem.  The problems, with the exception of
> OOo, are mainly confined to 32-bit-only proprietaryware, but even then,
> 32-bit runs quite well on the amd64 arch.  Setting up dual 32 and 64-bit
> support is a bit more complex than 32-bit only, but there's the usual
> level of good Gentoo documentation and help available when it's necessary,
> so most run it with very little more difficulty than they'd have running
> 32-bit x86 Gentoo.

Neil Bothwick <neil@××××××××××.uk> writes:

> On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 08:30:10 -0600, Harry Putnam wrote:
>
>> I'm about to install gentoo on an athlon64.  Is there enough 64 bit
>> software and other good reasons to use the 64 bit version?
>
> Almost everything has 64 bit versions, and those that don't, you can run
> as 32 bit. The main problem is proprietary plugins, so use firefox-bin to
> get the 32 bit compiled version, then you can install the plugins. 32 bit
> plugins won't work with a Firefox compiled for 64 bit.

The amd64 faq link posted by Ralph Sooten tells a kind of bleak story
as of June 2005 about there being nothing remarkable about 64
performance and futher that 32 bit out performs in many areas.  It is
also said that for `desktop' use there isn't much point.

R Slootens link: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-amd64-faq.xml
Leads here: 
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-amd64-faq.xml#perfup
Which leads here:
http://enterprise.linux.com/enterprise/05/06/09/1413209.shtml?tid=121

Do you guys agree with that assessment?

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