Linux distros for AMD 64
 

Ok, I'm as newbie as they come - I don't yet have any form of Linux. I just ordered a machine with an AMD 64 3000 CPU, and two 80 Gig SATA hard drives. I program on Windows machines for a living, so I have a free version of Windows XP, which I will install on one hard drive, so my kids can play their games and stuff.

I want to install Linux on the other hard drive, and use it as my primary operating system. It will be the operating system that gets to see the big, bad world (wide web), and I would like my kids to learn to use it.

Now for my question. Which Linux distributions support the AMD 64 chips? I know Suse does, and that Sun's desktop environment is based on it. I also know there is something called Linux 64, but other than that I'm kind of drowning in google hits. What else is out there? (I am reasonably computer literate, but I still would like a relatively easy install.)

Maybe one of the bsds?
Debain is working on one also.

Many Linux distributions support AMD64, as example you can look at Fedora which has an AMD64 version free for download.

Download from http://fedora.redhat.com or select one of the mirror sites near you.

The files you looking for are marked as “x86_64” which indicates that they are for AMD64.

Gentoo also has a AMD 64 port.

Read more about it here and here.

Mandrake also has an AMD64 version. And being Mandrake, is pretty newbie friendly.

Baldrick

gentoo, but i hear its a bitch to install and def. not a n00bz distro...go w/ mandrake imo

and get WinXP64bit

gentoo, but i hear its a bitch to install and def. not a n00bz distro...go w/ mandrake imo

and get WinXP64bit

Yeah, but XP64bit is shit, its in beta, no drivers, and its windows, so, you know.

Distribution doesn't matter, just compile your Kernel with x86-64 support and there you are. And you WILL compile your own kernel sooner or later.

By the way, why does everyone call this "64 bit stuff" ? As the name says it's a x86 with some bigger registers, or am I wrong?

Not that I'm a fan of the distro but Suse was one of the first big distros with a 64 bit release.

same config - looking for easy distro :)
 

HI slow...

(ABIT AMD64, 1gig, 1 Sata120, 1 IDE40, XP32, XP64...linux wanted)

I am looking for to install a FREE AMD64 distro beside my XP (until I can get rid of it)
...and do it the easiest way...

As for me: I downloaded Gentoo 1 CD, cool it s "free", not cool: it doesn t install easely (in my window point of view) ... according to everyone...
:study:
I went to "Linuxcollege" distro site, it says free AND EASY, but never mention about AMD64 support ready... ??? so more Cd to burn and time to waste...

Good or not I could not boot that Madrake 10.0 community version (3cd) a friend gave me... although Madranke is said to be easy to install !

Suse ?
I didn t download, but it s not free (MDK either for the AMD64 / see website)

So, I am just waisting a lot of time trying to locate that AMD64 easy and free version... and I am not yet ready (if ever) to compile systems like some users think we could...

I want to drive a car... without building it from parts !

Have you found or instaled something on your side yet ?
Maybe we can share time spent on testing...
Thanks
64...rules ;)
(well...soon)

:newbie:

http://www.suse.com/us/private/downl...nux/index.html

You can download the Suse Linux 9.1 cd iso image from this link It supports AMD64

Umm ... the AMD64 version is available here. Admittedly, it's ver 10.0-rc1, but it is for the AMD64 ... and free.

Baldrick

Thanks for sharing this info !
 

downloading Downloading....:study:

hey amd64, I'll be glad to share stories with you.

My computer is still in the works. I ordered it from Monarch Computing, and it won't be shipped for a few days yet, so I have no lessons to share, yet.

I think I have settled on Suse 9.1 Pro, or later. I want something easy to install, and from what I've read here, and elsewhere, it sounds like my best bet for an operating system that U can install easily. (If I struggle too much setting it up, I'll never get the wife and minions to migrate from Windows. Until proven otherwise, my wife will just assume Windows is easier, even though she could never install it, either.) I can afford to pay for one reasonably priced operating system, but I can't download the operating system until after I have it, so I'll buy it. (Work rules prevent big downloads like that, and by the time I can get broadband at home, I'll have my new computer.) XP Pro is roughlytwice the cost of Suse Pro, so the fact that I have a free (and legal!) copy of it is rather handy.

I still haven't quite figured out which operating system to install first. I was thinking of installing Suse on the "first" hard drive, and Windows XP Pro on the "second". One question is do a format both as FAT32 or the windows drive as ntfs. I am leaning towards both as FAT32, so that I can ghost the Windows install to the Suse disk, and the Suse install to the Windows disk. Then I will set up my users in each operating system, and set up Linux to run off my modem and make sure that works. My last step will be to load the software I (and the kids) need onto the Windows disk. Then I will let the kids play on the Linux side to get used to it, while figure out what I want to do with broadband. Finally, I will get more RAM (upgrade from 512 to 1 Gig, which must await paying off the computer) so that Windows will actually run worth a damn.

rntm, when number crunching there is a difference between software that is optimized for 64 bit processing, and one that is merely compiled for a 64 bit processor. I doubt anyone has really done the former however, and I don't know how much difference such optimization would make with the operating system.