I would like to install Mandriva LE 2005, but confused with the version,
my computer is Amd Athlon 64 (939) + Board Gigabyte Nvidia nForce4 chipset.
What version should best to install?

32-bit x86 version
64-bit x86-64 version
a stripped down version of the CD and DVD ISO images for i586

My friend have the 3 cds Mandriva LE 2005 i586 version but it freeze while installing nVidia driver just after the License Agreement on my computer
I have Ubuntu 5.4 x86 installed & it works fine.

Thanks...

Since you've a 64 bits processor, x86-64 is the correct one. However, AMD processors can run in 32 bits mode, thus the 32-bit x86 version should work without problems.

I don't have a 64 bits processor myself, but a friend has and he had a lot of problems with SuSE x86-64 on his machine. Problems included both instability and when compiling a few applications and other that simply would not work. He then installed SuSE 32 bits on his Athlon 64 and it all worked fine as it should.

Now, it's all up to you, since both versions of Mandrake would work with your computer. 64 bits version would theoretically be optimized for your processor, making use of the 64 bits power

Unless you are making extensive use of Databases or anything requiring more than 4 GB of RAM, you may as well avoid the problems and run in 32 bit mode.

Some of these problems are the reasons I am waiting to buy a new computer (may as well get some more life out of my Athlon XP 2200). If I wait until I'm actually ready to move to 64 bits, then newer processors will cost less in the future and I will get more for my money (if that makes any sense at all).

So what is that i586 for?
I don't really understand about processor term, whats that x86 means?
What makes Mandriva LE 2005 i586 version, freeze while installing nVidia driver just after the License Agreement on my computer...

thanks.

Unless I am wrong,

keep in mind when you are trying to make a decision that , relative to non 64 bit linux distros, there are still quite a few applications that don't support the 64bit architecture of 64-bit linux distros.

x86 means x86 compatable computers (386, 486, Pentium, Athlon XP)
i386 means a 386 or up.
i486 means a 486 or up.
i586 means a Pentium Pro or up.
i686 is I believe a Pentium 2 or 3.
x86_64 is for 64 bit processors that are x86 (Pentium Extreme, Athlon 64, Opteron, Xeon).

You aren't trying to install the x86_64 drivers on Mandriva x86 are you? That is bound to make it crash.

No i'm not.
I'm doing a clean install, booting the Mandriva cd1, but freeze while installing nVidia driver just after the License Agreement,
"please wait, installing nVidia driver bla bla bla......" and it keeps displaying the messages for so long...

Oh sorry, I thought you meant you downloaded the driver from www.nvidia.com yourself and it was freezing.

Is there any way for you to choose not to install the nvidia drivers? I am not sure myself, I have not used Mandriva for a long time.

As long as i know, there's no way to choose, not to install the nvidia drivers.
It just appear after clicking "Agree" to the the "License Agreement" and then it hang up.
I couldn't even open my DVDRom, coz it lock up, so have to push the reset button.
my Comp:
Amd Athlon 64 3200+ (939)
Gigagbyte K86NXP 939
Asus Ati Radeon X300

I'm having the same problem. My system hangs when I try to install the 32bit distro of Mandriva too. When I install the 64bit distro everything runs smoothly but as mentioned before some packages are not compatible with the 64bit distro. It hangs right when it is installing the nVidia drivers and sometimes I got lucky and got to the license agreement but then it hangs when I hit agree. Hopefully in the 06 distro they have fixed this problem with compatibility in the the 32bit distro with native 64bit processor support.

System Specs:
AMD Athlon 3500+
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Mobo (nForce 4 Chipset)
Chaintech 6600GT PCI-X gfx card