• nickp
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  • Registered: 2010-09-15
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Topic: Intel dual core, will 64bit or i686 be better

On my main install, Statler xfce uses about 130MB of RAM at startup, but on my virtualmachine the i686 openbox version uses just 60MB.

Does this mean that in theory i would get better performance from the i686 optimised version?

Many thanks

  • Unia
  • #! Die-hard
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  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-07-17
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Re: Intel dual core, will 64bit or i686 be better

If you have enough RAM, I'd go with the 64bit. I have 4GB of RAM and my install (64bit) currently uses 17% of it. Since I paid for it, I don't mind using it. My system still is blazingly fast smile

Let's do it and don't screw it.
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  • Registered: 2010-01-30
  • Posts: 32

Re: Intel dual core, will 64bit or i686 be better

I agree if you have 4gbs of ram or more use 64 bit but if you only have 2gbs then don't go 64 bit. I'm running crunch bang with a Intel dual core on 2gbs of ram and using 32bit.

  • Unia
  • #! Die-hard
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  • Registered: 2010-07-17
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Re: Intel dual core, will 64bit or i686 be better

2GB of RAM still is more than enough!

Let's do it and don't screw it.
      Github || Deviantart
  • Registered: 2008-11-24
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Re: Intel dual core, will 64bit or i686 be better

I also am running 32 bit #! on my 64 bit machine. Since I only have 2gb ram. A few things like Flash are slightly easier in 32 bit.

However your RAM comparison between the physical machine and the virtual machine are kind of meaningless... you would need to do the test on the same machine to have a conclusive answer. I have heard that 64 bit does use a bit more ram, however the purpose of this is to make your computer faster, not slower (assuming you have plenty of RAM as most 64 bit computers do).

  • From: Austin, TX
  • Registered: 2009-11-17
  • Posts: 223

Re: Intel dual core, will 64bit or i686 be better

I have 64-bit and 32-bit both on the same dual-core AMD box (getting skype on 64-bit was that frustrating), and honestly, I don't really notice much of a speed difference. Of course, a 64-bit OS will use up more memory, but that doesn't mean it's slower.

  • nickp
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Re: Intel dual core, will 64bit or i686 be better

Many thanks. I have 3GB of RAM, but may go back to 32 bit so as to avoid installing 32 bit libs for some apps i want to run on my 64 bit machine.

Cheers