Can I run 64bit OS?

igsen · 12-05-2009, 07:23 PM

This is what my system monitor says
Ubuntu
Release 9.10 Karmic
Kernel Linux 2.6.31-16-generic
GNOME 2.28.1
Hardware
Memory 2.0 GiB
Processor 0: Pentium(R) Dual -Core CPU E5200 @ 2.50GHz
Processor 1: Pentium(R) Dual -Core CPU E5200 @ 2.50GHz

My question is, under this specs can I run 64bit Ubuntu?
Are there any ways to check, using command line, if my system can?

bret381 · 12-05-2009, 07:25 PM

64 bit is dependent only on your processor. But to answer your question, yes you shouldn't have problems with a 64 bit OS

the trooper · 12-06-2009, 04:59 AM

The way to check is with the output of cat /proc/cpuinfo.
Under the flags section make sure you have lm listed.
Here's an example from mine:

Code:

flags: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow rep_good pni cx16 lahf_lm cmp_legacy sv

This shows you have a 64bit processor and can in turn run a 64bit o/s.

johnsfine · 12-06-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igsen

E5200

That is the one unambiguous piece of info (for this question) you posted about your system.

For those of us who don't have the Intel model numbers memorized, the next step is to find the page for E5200 on intel.com. I found it at:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/det...px?sSpec=SLAY7

Then you find "EM64T" in that page and see whether it is listed as supported, supported by only some revisions, or not supported. In this case, we see supported, so that CPU can run a 64 bit OS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by igsen

Memory 2.0 GiB

That also is relevant. If it had been absurdly low, we could have told you that using a 64 bit OS wouldn't be a good idea. 2GiB is well within the range in which neither 32 bit not 64 bit has any problem with the memory size, so the decision between 32 bit and 64 bit should be based on something else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the trooper

The way to check is with the output of cat /proc/cpuinfo.
Under the flags section make sure you have lm listed.

That is the more generic and reliable way to get the answer. I'm just describing a way to get the answer if you were limited to the info in the first post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bret381

yes you shouldn't have problems with a 64 bit OS

Correct, but since you don't give a basis for the answer, the OP can't know whether you're guessing, or whether you know or think you know something about "Pentium(R) Dual -Core" (I have found Intel processor names like that to be very ambiguous indicators of what the CPU really is) or whether you remembered or looked up what an E5200 really is.

I don't mean to imply you didn't know the answer, just that supporting details make it easier to trust an answer.