Re: Debian Question: linux-image-2.6...-k7 vs. linux-image-2.6...-amd64

On 5/26/2007 12:44 AM PT, Anton Ertl wrote:

I am currently running linux-image-2.6.18-4-k7 on my old ASUS K8V SE Deluxe machine with an Athlon 64 3200+ 754 CPU (single core), 1 GB of RAM, etc. (http://alpha.zimage.com/~ant/antfarm/about/computers.txt for my secondary computer specifications). It runs Debian r4 and acts a workstation (no gaming) like surfing the Web, using e-mails, using newsgroups (Tin and Pan), IMs, IRC, some compilings (nothing major), download a lot, SSH from outside like at work, watch videos (online and locally) and DVDs, VMware v5.5.4 to test and use things, etc.

I was wondering if I would get any advantages (even 1% faster speed) if I were to install and use AMD64 Kernel (linux-image-2.6.18-4-amd64).

And continue to use the 32-bit userland? Probably not (not sure how
it will affect VMware).

One advantage of the 64-bit kernel for 32-bit programs is that the
programs can get more virtual address space, but with 1GB RAM you
probably don't need that. Otherwise, if you want to stay with a
32-bit userland, I would not bother with the 64-bit kernel.

Yeah, and 1 GB of plenty of what I am doing right now. I think when I switch to the dual core, I will have 2 GB by then but that's a couple years away.


Will it break anything programs like 32-bit programs?

I have noticed that strace does not work on 32-bit programs when
running a 64-bit kernel. Apart from that all 32-bit stuff I have
tested works.

Hmm. What do you use instead of strace then?


I know I will have to recompile things like NVIDIA driver and VMware v5.5.4's drivers.

You probably will need a 64-bit userland or a 32-bit-to-64-bit
cross-compiler for that.

Well, for NVIDIA... I assume I would need this, if I use AMD64 Kernel, http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_amd64_1.0-9755.html instead of http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-9755.html ... Am I correct?


I am not making my OS 100% 64-bit because I heard it is a hassle to compile both 32-bit and 64-bit programs which I do not have time for.

It's pretty easy: Keep your existing 32-bit installation (in addition
to installing a 64-bit installation), and when you want to compile a
32-bit program, chroot to the 32-bit installation and compile the
program there. Less hassle thanrecompiling your proprietary drivers
and installing the 64-bit system in the first place.

I have this board and one problem I have is that the 64-bit system
hangs or reboots soon after the CPU load drops after or during reboot,
unless I boot Windows first and let it run a minute or two, then
reboot into Linux. If you use the 64-bit kernel and don't encounter
this problem, let me know your BIOS version.

Are you saying when you reboot the computer (shutdown -r now) in Linux, your computer doesn't boot up with Cool'n'Quiet? If so, then I had this problem recently and I found out it was my Antec PSU that was going bad.
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