32-bit vs 64-bit dilema

Asked by Mark Flatland

I would like to use Ubuntu on a daily basis. I have a 64-bit machine (Intel i7) and was wondering which to install. I will be performing video and audio editing, and cd and dvd burning. I also have hotmail, gmail, and facebook accounts that I visit frequently. Which is better for my needs -- the 32-bit or 64-bit version?

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Uwe Geuder
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Revision history for this message
Uwe Geuder (ubuntulp-ugeuder) said :
#1

If you are not a technical user use 32 bit.

Although 64 bit has become pretty well supported there might still be a few issues.

The advantages of 64 bits are more than neglectable for average usage like hotmail, gmail, facebook.

Revision history for this message
Vikram Dhillon (dhillon-v10) said :
#2

Depends on how familiar with Ubuntu, the 64-bit has been quiet
polished but there are still some things that aren't working as well
:) which will change very soon, for now I suggest stay with 32-bit
system :) Thanks.

On Sun, May 30, 2010 at 12:26 AM, Uwe Geuder
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Question #112781 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/112781
>
>    Status: Open => Answered
>
> Uwe Geuder proposed the following answer:
> If you are not a technical user use 32 bit.
>
> Although 64 bit has become pretty well supported there might still be a
> few issues.
>
> The advantages of 64 bits are more than neglectable for average usage
> like hotmail, gmail, facebook.
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Ubuntu.
>

--
Regards,
Vikram Dhillon

~~~
There are lots of Linux users who don't care how the kernel works, but
only want to use it. That is a tribute to how good Linux is.
-- Linus Torvalds

Revision history for this message
Best Uwe Geuder (ubuntulp-ugeuder) said :
#3

A bit more details (but still highly simplified)

The main advantage of 64 bits is that a single program can use more than 4 GBytes of main memory. Normally even the biggest
programs in Ubuntu use well less than 100 MBytes. So with 32 bits you still have a safety margin of a factor of 40. Well in real life some memory addresses are just "waisted" without even being used. So maybe your safety factor is only 10. But still it will take more years than your computers expected lifetime until hotmail & Co. require more than 10 times more memory.

Revision history for this message
Mark Flatland (twon5is7dad) said :
#4

Uwe,
Thank you for responding. However, what is the definition of a technical user?
Would editing (converting formats, splicing and cutting) video and audio files
qualify as technical use?
How new is 64-bit support? If it is less than a year old, I don't want to touch it
for fear of too many problems.
Also, would torrent downloading be supported - I hate watching commercials
(an extra 18 minutes per hour wasted).
Going to bed (GMT-7hrs),
Mark

> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #112781]: 32-bit vs 64-bit dilema
> Date: Sun, 30 May 2010 04:26:09 +0000
>
> Your question #112781 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/112781
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Uwe Geuder proposed the following answer:
> If you are not a technical user use 32 bit.
>
> Although 64 bit has become pretty well supported there might still be a
> few issues.
>
> The advantages of 64 bits are more than neglectable for average usage
> like hotmail, gmail, facebook.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/112781/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/112781
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.

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Revision history for this message
Mark Flatland (twon5is7dad) said :
#5

Thanks Uwe Geuder, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Mark Flatland (twon5is7dad) said :
#6

Vikram,
You also helped me decide to start with 32-bit Ubuntu, find out whether it does everything I need it to do, and possibly upgrade later. I still would like to know whether torrent downloading is supported.
Mark

> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #112781]: 32-bit vs 64-bit dilema
> Date: Sun, 30 May 2010 04:30:34 +0000
>
> Your question #112781 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/112781
>
> Vikram Dhillon proposed the following answer:
> Depends on how familiar with Ubuntu, the 64-bit has been quiet
> polished but there are still some things that aren't working as well
> :) which will change very soon, for now I suggest stay with 32-bit
> system :) Thanks.
>
> On Sun, May 30, 2010 at 12:26 AM, Uwe Geuder
> <email address hidden> wrote:
> > Question #112781 on Ubuntu changed:
> > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/112781
> >
> > Status: Open => Answered
> >
> > Uwe Geuder proposed the following answer:
> > If you are not a technical user use 32 bit.
> >
> > Although 64 bit has become pretty well supported there might still be a
> > few issues.
> >
> > The advantages of 64 bits are more than neglectable for average usage
> > like hotmail, gmail, facebook.
> >
> > --
> > You received this question notification because you are an answer
> > contact for Ubuntu.
> >
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Vikram Dhillon
>
> ~~~
> There are lots of Linux users who don't care how the kernel works, but
> only want to use it. That is a tribute to how good Linux is.
> -- Linus Torvalds
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/112781/+confirm?answer_id=1
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/112781
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.

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Revision history for this message
Uwe Geuder (ubuntulp-ugeuder) said :
#7

> However, what is the definition of a technical user?
>Would editing (converting formats, splicing and cutting) video and audio files
>qualify as technical use?

I meant somebody who is both capable and happy to solve hairy software problems
(like the device driver for your WiFi card is not working)

> How new is 64-bit support? If it is less than a year old, I don't want to touch it
> for fear of too many problems.

It has been around for several years. Problems are rare, but they still exist. But the
benefits are so small, that it's just not worth it.

Unless: If you had ~ 6 GB or even more of physical RAM in your machine and your video
editor can really use it, it might offer you huge benefits by keeping much more of a high definition
video in main memory during editing (instead of on the disk, which is millions times slower to access).
I'm not into video editing, so I don't know whether video editors can really use that much
memory. And not that many people have more than 2 GB I guess.

> Also, would torrent downloading be supported

I assume so.

> - I hate watching commercials
> (an extra 18 minutes per hour wasted)

I don't watch TV. An extra 1,2,3 hours per day wasted .

Revision history for this message
Uwe Geuder (ubuntulp-ugeuder) said :
#8

>> Also, would torrent downloading be supported

> I assume so.

Yes, it is.

Here's how to check:

1. Go to https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/
2. search for the package you are interested in (transmission-gtk is the default Bit Torrent client in ubuntu)
3. click some links (which I cannot see right now because launchpad gets a timeout error),
4. to see whether the package is available for amd64

Alternative; (which I did now)

2b.) find out the source package name by "apt-cache show transmission-gtk" (or whatever package you would like to investigate)

3b) Go to https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/transmission (or whatever source package came out in the previous step)

4.) as above

Revision history for this message
Rob Frerejean (hffrerejean) said :
#9

Hi Mark,

I had the same dilemma regarding what to install. I have the same processor as you and 64 bit. I use Ubuntu 10.04 32 bit.

For torrent I advise Qbittorrent.

The standard transmission is just not all that nice. Good for downloading though. Qbittorrent has much more.

Rob