[vox-tech] 32 vs. 64

[Bill Broadley]

On Thu, Oct 20, 2005 at 04:03:54PM -0700, ALLO (Alfredo Lopez De Leon) wrote:
> Hi, 
> I just got a new Poweredge 1850 (Dual Xeon 3.8 GHz, 2 MB RAM, SCSI) and
> I am planning to install on it Fedora Core 4.  The question is: Should I
> use the i386 version or the x86_EM64T?  The Xeons can use either OS
> though I don't know if both are native or if one of them is emulated.

I wouldn't use the word emulated.  

> Thinking about the future, I am leaning towards the 64-bit version, but
> I am wondering if I will run into trouble with my applications.  Most of
> them if not ALL are 32-bit.  

They should work fine.  

> Is anybody aware of any potential problems? Is there an associated cost
> of running 32-bit applications on 64-bit machines?

I use several 64 bit machines without problems, many of my applications
are 32 bit.

As a bonus when you are 64 bit you get more security (the NX-bit) and
more performance (larger registers, and more of them.)


-- 
Bill Broadley
Computational Science and Engineering
UC Davis