Do I want 32 bit or 64 bit?
This is a question I have fielded many times, it is one most new Linux users ask before they even download their first Linux ISO. There is a short answer and a long answer to this question. The short answer:
You want 32bit.
OK - now for the long answer. There are several things to consider when deciding if you want to use 32 bit or 64 bit on your system.
Hardware Support:
Does your processor support the 64 bit architecture?
Most all modern processors do, but this is something you should double check if you are unsure about your particular chip.
Applications:
While it is true that most all open source applications have both 32 bit and 64 bit installers, more than a few closed source applications do not.
RAM:
The main reason for choosing a 64 bit operating system on a desktop system is so you are able to utilize more than 4GB of RAM. Well, thanks to PAE your favorite Linux distribution can recognize up to 64GB of RAM with a 32 bit installation - which should be more than enough for most desktop users.
Speed:
Unless you are compiling software or encoding audio/video often there really is very little speed difference between the two operating architectures. Meaning that most people who just use the computer for everyday tasks such as web-browsing will not notice a difference between the two.
For the average desktop user the applications issue, especially with flash - something most of us use everyday, is the driving factor to use a 32 bit version of your Linux distro of choice. If you are using your system as more of a work station (compiling and decoding) then maybe the 64 bit version is a better selection for your needs.
Are there any other things you consider when making the choice between downloading a 32 bit or 64 bit version of a distro..?
