what is 64bit processor?

[morko]

The number of processors/cores and the word size are completely independent. You can have 4 32bit CPUs, or one 64bit. Or the other way around.
Whether an application can use more than one CPU depends on the programming.

Ok. Thanks for pointing this out again. I read it from the previous posts, but it somehow skipped my brains.

[Capoeira]

I decided to try Sidux out on my new Laptop.

it has an Intel Dual Core T3400: http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=35583

thats the notebook: http://de.computers.toshiba-europe.com/ ... ID=1060906

though its mentioned (on CPU especifications) that the CPU is 64bit the notebook has a Windows Vista 32bit preinstalled. Why? And the 64bit are not mentioned on Laptop-specifications

Also the 64bit iso of Sidux is called "AMD64"

should/can i go with the 64bit version?

[funkmuscle]

yeah, my Mom's new computer with Windows 7, amd dualcore yet 32bit on it...

I read places that amd is better with linux than intel.... I personally love amd but I couldn't tell which is faster.

[Claudio]

I decided to try Sidux out on my new Laptop.

it has an Intel Dual Core T3400: http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=35583

thats the notebook: http://de.computers.toshiba-europe.com/ ... ID=1060906

though its mentioned (on CPU especifications) that the CPU is 64bit the notebook has a Windows Vista 32bit preinstalled. Why? And the 64bit are not mentioned on Laptop-specifications

Also the 64bit iso of Sidux is called "AMD64"

should/can i go with the 64bit version?

The reason they have 32-bit Windows on it is because a lot of software on the Windows side are still 32-bit. 64-bit Windows does have a compatibility layer called WOW64 (WOW stands for WindowsOnWindows) for running older 32-bit apps on 64-bit Windows, but I don't think it supports all 32-bit apps. This is why they stick with the 32-bit Windows on the 64-bit system....so that Joe/Jane Consumer can still use his/her old programs that ran on Windows 2000/XP on their older 32-bit computers. Also, information like "64-bit" will make any Joe/Jane consumer's eyes glaze over.

More on WOW64: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOW64

Most distributions like Ubuntu do also provide both 32-bit and 64-bit libraries (multilib) so that you can run 32-bit apps and such. There are some, like Slackware64, that are purely 64-bit and have no lib32 libraries available, but one can add that oneself (though not easy). They figure if you want to run 32-bit apps that you'll install 32-bit Slack instead. Still, I think there's a multilib package for Slackware that can be installed but it's not official from the distribution.

The "AMD64" moniker for the 64-bit version isn't specifically for AMD processors. Remember that Intel was pushing its 64-bit design with Itanium (IA64) and AMD decided to stick with a more compatible route (AMD64). Since then, Intel decided to go the same route as AMD did (the market really decided for them ) and thus their implementation of "x86_64" is called EM64T (http://www.topbits.com/em64t-intel-64.html). EM64T and AMD64 just are marketing names from their respective companies for x86_64, but since AMD was the first to market with this design, it's called AMD64.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86-64#History_of_AMD64

[Capoeira]

thank, in the meantime I installed Arch 64bit wich feuters easy to install 32-bit librarys, too