Ubuntu 64 bit

Lee said:
Hi, why is it reccommended to install the 32bit desktop version and not the 64bit version of Ubuntu ?
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This is a ever recurring question as been around from mid 2000 onwards, or even before! :)

Comes down to the old question of which came first... the chicken or the egg?

32bit as just been around longer so is better supported.... simple as that. If your a "home" user either version will serve just as well. My suggestion is download both iso's and just try them for yourself!

Older systems with older hardware are more likely to work better on 32 bit but that's not a given thing either.

The RAM issue so many times floated is a red herring when it comes to linux. With the advent of PAE (Physical Address Extension) 32 bit linux can address up to a max of 64Gb of memory. Unless you are a professional user with a monster system I doubt this will be a worry to you. Other OS's have limitations and you can check them out here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension#Linux

In summary.... just try them both :)
 
Essexraptor said:
The RAM issue so many times floated is a red herring when it comes to linux. With the advent of PAE (Physical Address Extension) 32 bit linux can address up to a max of 64Gb of memory. Unless you are a professional user with a monster system I doubt this will be a worry to you.
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Remember that dispite the OS being able to address so much memory with PAE, a single 32 bit process can still only use a 4GiB stack of virtual memory (not to be confused with swap).

So people doing really large video renders, doing large system simulations, manipulating large CAD models, etc... may have a genuine need for the 64bit Operating system, and 64 bit build of their program.
 
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