Should I install 32-bit or 64-bit Linux? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate:
Should I choose 32 or 64 bit for Linux?

I have a three-years-old Dell box with an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and maximum 4GB RAM. I want to install Linux on the system but am unsure whether to use a 32-bit or 64-bit base.

I have a feeling that 32-bit is the way to go because 64-bit will consume more memory since 64-bit address pointers are double the size of 32-bit address pointers.

My main aim is applications should run as fast as possible. I usually have several dozens applications running at the same time.

What's your take on this from your experience?

Solution 1:

As has been noted before, it won't make much difference.

Pros for 64:

• Programs may run a bit faster.
• Can use all 4 GB RAM without any special kernel.
• Allows running virtual machines with 64-bit guest OS. Newer VM versions may allow this on 32-bit hosts as well, though.

Pros for 32:

• Less hassle using 32-bit applications and packages, allthough running 32-bit applications should work in 64-bit environment too.
• Allows development linking to 32-bit (usually proprietary) libraries.

Solution 2:

Unless you're running heavy math/science/multimedia software, you won't really gain much from going 64-bit. I'd stick with 32-bit if I were you.

$ uname -a
Linux localhost.localdomain 2.6.34.8-68.fc13.x86_64 #1 SMP Thu Feb 17 15:03:58 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
$ lsb_release -a
LSB Version:    :core-4.0-amd64:core-4.0-noarch
Distributor ID: Fedora
Description:    Fedora release 13 (Goddard)
Release:    13
Codename:   Goddard