Re: [gentoo-user] OT: Gentoo on an AMD 64bit portable

[Vladimir G. Ivanovic]

On Fri, 2006-06-16 at 20:34 +0000, James wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I've seen snipits of various issues related to running gentoo on a 64 bit
> amd processor. In particular, I'd like to get a 'low power'
> chip such as the Turion in a portable.

I have a Turion MT-32 laptop (ABS Mayhem F-15 A40 which is actually an
MSI-1011 and only sold by NewEgg for $900.)

> One of my concerns is whether to use
> 32 bit or 64 bit Gentoo on a 64 bit AMD portable. Is there
> a document I can read somewhere that explains the merits
> and problems on how to set up Gentoo on a 64 bit machine?
> If not can somebody explain the caveats of 64 bit (amd) gentoo?
> I do not wish to be on the 'bleeding edge' of 64 bit AMD issues,
> but, I'd like to access the power. I'm running a variety of
> 32 bit stable gentoo systems now, with relative ease.

I've basically had no problems running a 64-bit system other than the
well-known mplayer & flash-type problems, except when I go and try to
compile open source applications. Many make fundamental assumptions
about data layouts and sizes that are simply not true for 64-bit
systems.

BTW, I have had ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~amd64" for months now without any
serious problems, although I do run into the occasional (non-essential)
package which won't compile. They are usually fixed (or a patch
provided) in a reasonable amount of time.

I'd unhesitantly run a 64-bit system on an AMD64 system again.

--- Vladimir

-- 
Vladimir G. Ivanovic <vgivanovic@×××××××.net>
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