How to install Chrome or Chromium 32 bit on Ubuntu 64 bit

Question

I am unable to find any advice how to install either Chrome or Chromium 32 bit on Ubuntu 64 bit 12.10. I installed ia32-libs, downloaded Chrome install package google-chrome-stable_current_i386.deb and tried to install with command:

dpkg -i --force-architecture google-chrome-stable_current_i386.deb

...but it failed with errors:

# dpkg -i --force-architecture /home/stepank/Downloads/google-chrome-stable_current_i386.deb
Selecting previously unselected package google-chrome-stable.
(Reading database ... 253612 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking google-chrome-stable (from .../google-chrome-stable_current_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of google-chrome-stable:
 google-chrome-stable depends on libgconf2-4 (>= 2.27.0).
 google-chrome-stable depends on libnss3-1d (>= 3.12.3).
 google-chrome-stable depends on xdg-utils (>= 1.0.2).

dpkg: error processing google-chrome-stable (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 google-chrome-stable

Any advice would be helpful.

Edit: I forgot to mention guide I was using: https://superuser.com/questions/346775/errors-on-attempting-to-install-32-bit-chrome-in-64-bit-ubuntu

Edit 2: I lost my reason to install 32 bit version - memory consumption will sadly be the same. See Alvar's answer bellow.

Solution

I just want to clarify why you are doing this. The basic idea is wrong since it will use the same amount of RAM as the 64-bit version.

32-bit consume less ram on a 32-bit system, this is a fact. But it will allocate more RAM on a 64-bit system because the 32-bit packages will be carried through the cpu as 64-bit packages and therefor allocate the same RAM as the 64-bit version. If you are worried about RAM install the 32-bit version. I just did a report on this 32/64 bit problem for school.

So my answer to you is to install any version of 64-bit or 32-bit both will use the same amount of RAM. IF you want to use less RAM install the 32-bit version or upgrade the hardware of your computer.

Comments

[Andrea Corbellini]

Where did you find instructions to do so? Did you try the packages from the Software Center? If so, didn't they work?

[Stepan]

Instructions to do so: here or here Software center: actually I am using Lubuntu, in Lubuntu Softtware center is no option to choose architectute. In "pure" Ubuntu 64 in Software Center you can force 32 bit version?

[Andrea Corbellini]

Why are you trying to install 32-bit Chrome/Chromium? Is there a specific reason? Again, did you try the Software Center? Sorry for insisting, but we can't help without proper information.

[Stepan]

Reason: 32 bit Chromium consumes less RAM. Lubuntu Softtware Center does not allow to choose architecture (ie 32 bit on 64 bit system).

[Braiam]

IMO, there isn't any mayor memory differences between either.

[Stepan]

Thanks for you advice. Does this PPA allows me to instal 32 bit version on 64 bit Ubuntu?

[Stepan]

Thanks a lot your clarification. This sure make my attempt useless. I will either re-install 32 bit Ubuntu or live with higher memory demands.