Is 32 or 64 bit better for a computer with 2 GB memory?

Question

This is the computer I have currently with Xubuntu 13.10 installed on it, and it works well:

• OS version: Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3, 32 bit
• Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80 GHz, x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 1
• Processor count: 1
• RAM: 1149 MB
• Graphics card: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller, 96 MB
• Hard drives: C: Total - 38091 MB, Free - 17316 MB;
• Motherboard: Dell Computer Corp., 0U2575
• Antivirus: CA Anti-Virus Plus, Updated: No, On-Demand Scanner: Enabled

However, I do a lot of editing of large digital photos, and I'm converting a second computer, with the exact same specifications as this one, to Xubuntu 13.10, AND I'm replacing the 128 MB memory module with a 1 GB module, giving me a total of 2 GB. I have read a lot of posts here that say with 2 GB it is best to go with the 32 bit download of 13.10. But I have also read a lot of posts here that say it's best to go with the 64-bit. That 2 GB is plenty to run 64-bit software, and that 32 bit software is rapidly becoming obsolete.

What is the explanation to clear up the confusion?

Solution 1

You list your processor as "Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz, x86 Family"

Anything in the x86 Family is a 32-bit processor. You need to install the 32bit version.

If you had a AMD64 or x86_64 Family it would be a 64bit processor and capable of running a 64bit version.

As for the memory issue. The main difference between 32bit and 64bit is the ability to address more memory. A 32-bit processor can only handle up to 4GB or 2^32 = 4GB. A 64-bit can handle much more than that 2^64 = 16EB = 17,179,869,184. The implementation details are much more complex than this description.

Solution 2

The Pentium 4 line is mostly X86-32 (32bit). However you state that yours is Family 15 model 4 2.8ghz. A google search reveals that the 511 in that series is X86-64 (64bit).

http://ark.intel.com/products/27453/Intel-Pentium-4-Processor-511-1M-Cache-2_80A-GHz-533-MHz-FSB

Therefore the 64bit version of Xubuntu may be an option for you. With 2gb of ram you absolutely can happily run a 64bit operating system though you may find it consumes a little more of your ram than a 32bit install.

Solution 3

64 bit is the recommended system these days ( it's not just about memory ), but I don't think that old CPU is 64 bit capable, so you will need to stick with 32 bit.

Solution 4

If your processor really is 64-bit capable (try booting from 64-bit LiveCD), I still think 64-bit system will give you no benefits.

1. 64-bit systems may use more than 64GB, 32-bit with PAE (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension) may use up to 64 GB, without PAE -- up to 4GB. Those amounts of memory include not just physical memory, but virtual memory as well, so you cannot enlarge swap file or swap partition to overcome the limits.

2. Even a PAE 32-bit system can NOT allocate more than 4GB (memory and address space) to a single app, so apps that deal with huge amounts of data sometimes require 64-bit.

3. Generally if you compare the 32- and 64- bit versions of the same OS or of the same app, 64-bit one will use more memory due to larger size of primitive datatypes (mostly pointers). Which one will be faster, depends on application.

So, if you do not have much memory, and do not have apps that need more than 4GB of memory or of address space, 32-bit system is quite ok. 64-bit one is usually needed for systems with a lot of memory. However, even in your case it is good to use 64-bit if some of your apps fail due to lack of virtual address space (it is not a very common problem, but sometimes it happens).

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Comments

[halfer]

If it's a 32 bit processor, afaik the 64 bit one will not run.

[phuclv]

use CPU-Z to check if your CPU supports EM64T instruction set

[Eliah Kagan]

Since it turns out this is an XY problem, and is really about user250093's processor rather than RAM, and the issue of 32-bit processors supporting only the 32-bit version is covered well in at least one good answer to What are the differences between 32-bit and 64-bit, and which should I choose? (which also has answers that cover RAM considerations somewhat extensively), I'd suggest we close this as a duplicate of that question.

[phuclv]

@OP: you should provide the CPU model. There's not only one 2.8GHz Pentium 4 CPU

[Meow]

you don't really have 2gb of ram!!

[Meow]

grc.com/securable.htm use it to find if your processor is 64 or not

[phuclv]

No, some models of Pentium 4 since Prescott have x86_64 instruction set

[Nabil]

Don't know why someone downvoted this answer, It's a good one. So I am upvoting this to make it equal.

[mango]

I stand corrected. Some Pentium 4 cpus from around 2006 such as some of the ones in the HT line were X86-64. HT=Hyper Threading. Basically the last ones before the Intel Core2 series was pushed out in time for Vista's unveiling.

[phuclv]

There's (at least) a 64-bit 2.8GHz Pentium 4 CPU here ark.intel.com/products/42114/…. I cannot infer anything without knowing the correct CPU model

[mango]

That's Pentium D not Pentium 4. Pentium Ds are built off Pentium 4.

[mango]

My answer has been edited. The OP has a model 4 which is available in 64bit at 2.8ghz.

[Braiam]

My current processor is a P4 and is 64-bit capable...

[phuclv]

This is XP, not windows 7, you cannot conclude anything from that line. x86 means x86 family, it doesn't mean that it doesn't support x86_64 extension

[phuclv]

some P4 CPUs from Prescott and above support x86_64 instruction set

[mango]

postbin.djun.net/pages/article14/page.php = Find out if you have 32bit or 64bit cpu.

[phuclv]

ahh sorry misread the CPU type

[Andreas]

Since this was written, 2^64 has been revised from 17,179,869,184 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,616.