what cpu type to use for a intel duo e6850 (i386 or amd64)

[Matthew Seaman]

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mario.lobo at ipad.com.br wrote:

> So, I did an SMP/i386 install. I cannot say I regret it since everything
> runs absolutely smooth and fast here.
> 
> On the tecnical side (not practical) was it correct to give up 64 bit
> processing?

This is a question to which there is no simple answer, other than
'It depends.'

What it depends on are such things as:

   * software compatibility with 32 or 64 bit system

   * what application load you require

   * how large the disk and memory structures you're dealing with are

   * how much RAM you have

You'll find that programs like databases that have to do large
amounts of IO benefit greatly from being on a 64bit system,
especially if that system is fully populated with memory and disks.

On the other hand, really compute-intensive programs can often gain
on a 32bit system by virtue of being able to fit more 32bit sized
objects into cache RAM.

Desktops tend to be run at 32bit because of software compatibility
problems.  Machines with Nvidia graphics cards need to be 32bit in
order to use the Nvidia accelerated graphics driver.

As it is, for your server it seems that you have achieved that happy
performance level of "fast enough."  Anything else is just gravy.

	Cheers,

	Matthew

- -- 
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil.                   7 Priory Courtyard
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PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey     Ramsgate
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