[ale] 64bit or 32bit

[James Sumners]

With 2GB of RAM I don't think it is much of an issue. But it is an
issue with less system memory. One of the VPS solutions I am looking
at right now offers 32-bit and 64-bit systems. According to
independent reviews, the 32-bit systems, on the cheaper packages with
less RAM, perform better than the 64-bit systems in most scenarios.
Database servers, in these reviews, are where the 64-bit systems show
an advantage.

On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 12:21 PM, Michael B. Trausch <mike at trausch.us> wrote:
> On 01/21/2010 08:52 AM, James Sumners wrote:
>> 64-bit applications use more RAM than their 32-bit counterparts due to
>> the fact that pointers are larger on 64-bit platforms. So if you are
>> worried about RAM usage you will likely want to use the 32-bit distro.
>
> While data pointers are twice as large, and so a little more memory is
> going to be used, if you're concerned about speed you'll want to use a
> 64-bit processor with a 64-bit operating system and 64-bit application
> software because the operations are faster---it's more efficient to move
> large data around on such systems.
>
> Now, that said, if we're talking about memory or speed at this low a
> level, then we're probably talking about embedded hardware, because this
> would be the harder 20% of the optimization problem.
>
>        --- Mike



-- 
James Sumners
http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/

"All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."

Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
CH:D 59